11. Somewhat weak in intellect. [Colloq.]
He made soft fellows stark noddies, and such as were foolish quite mad.
Burton. 12. Quiet; undisturbed; paceful; as, soft slumbers.
13. Having, or consisting of, a gentle curve or curves; not angular or abrupt; as, soft outlines.
14. Not tinged with mineral salts; adapted to decompose soap; as, soft water is the best for washing.
15. (Phonetics) (a) Applied to a palatal, a sibilant, or a dental consonant (as g in gem, c in cent,
etc.) as distinguished from a guttural mute (as g in go, c in cone, etc.); — opposed to hard. (b)
Belonging to the class of sonant elements as distinguished from the surd, and considered as involving
less force in utterance; as, b, d, g, z, v, etc., in contrast with p, t, k, s, f, etc.
Soft clam (Zoöl.),
the common or long clam See Mya. — Soft coal, bituminous coal, as distinguished
from anthracite, or hard, coal. — Soft crab (Zoöl.), any crab which has recently shed its shell. —
Soft dorsal (Zoöl.), the posterior part of the dorsal fin of fishes when supported by soft rays. — Soft
grass. (Bot.) See Velvet grass. — Soft money, paper money, as distinguished from coin, or hard
money. [Colloq. U.S.] — Soft mute. (Phonetics) See Media. — Soft palate. See the Note under
Palate. — Soft ray (Zoöl.), a fin ray which is articulated and usually branched. — Soft soap. See
under Soap. — Soft-tack, leavened bread, as distinguished from hard-tack, or ship bread. — Soft
tortoise (Zoöl.), any river tortoise of the genus Trionyx. See Trionyx.
Soft
(Soft) n. A soft or foolish person; an idiot. [Colloq.] G. Eliot.
Soft
(Soft), adv. Softly; without roughness or harshness; gently; quietly. Chaucer.
A knight soft riding toward them.
Spenser. Soft
(Soft), interj. Be quiet; hold; stop; not so fast.
Soft, you; a word or two before you go.
Shak.