adj.

1. yielding readily to pressure or weight
2. compassionate and kind; conciliatory
   
   • he was soft on his children
3. (of sound) relatively low in volume
   
   • soft voices
   • soft music
4. easily hurt;
   delicate
   
   • soft hands
   • a baby's delicate skin
5. produced with vibration of the vocal cords; "a frequently voiced opinion"; "voiced consonants such as `b' and `g' and `z'";;
   voiced, sonant
6. not protected against attack (especially by nuclear weapons)
   
   • soft targets
7. used chiefly as a direction or description in music;
   piano
   
   • the piano passages in the composition
8. (of light) transmitted from a broad light source or reflected;
   diffuse, diffused
9. (of speech sounds); produced with the back of the tongue raised toward the hard palate; characterized by a hissing or hushing sound (as `s' and `sh')
10. (of a commodity or market or currency) falling or likely to fall in value
    
    • the market for computers is soft
11. using evidence not readily amenable to experimental verification or refutation
    
    • soft data
    • the soft sciences
12. tolerant or lenient;
    indulgent, lenient
    
    • indulgent parents risk spoiling their children
    • too soft on the children
    • they are soft on crime
13. soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe;
    gentle
    
    • a gentle reprimand
    • a vein of gentle irony
    • poked gentle fun at him
14. having little impact;
    easy, gentle
    
    • an easy pat on the shoulder
    • gentle rain
    • a gentle breeze
    • a soft (or light) tapping at the window
15. out of condition; not strong or robust; incapable of exertion or endurance;
    flabby, flaccid
    
    • he was too soft for the army
    • flabby around the middle
    • flaccid cheeks
16. willing to negotiate and compromise
17. not burdensome or demanding; borne or done easily and without hardship;
    cushy, easygoing
    
    • what a cushy job!
    • the easygoing life of a parttime consultant
    • a soft job
18. mild and pleasant;
    balmy, mild
    
    • balmy days and nights
    • the climate was mild and conducive to life or growth
    • a soft breeze
19. not brilliant or glaring;
    subdued
    
    • the moon cast soft shadows
    • soft pastel colors
    • subdued lighting

adv.

1. in a relaxed manner; or without hardship; "just wanted to take it easy" (`soft' is nonstandard);
   easy