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# soft

adjective (soft, softer, softest); adverb softly

«soft» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Not hard or firm; easy to press or bend: a soft pillow. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/soft/#m1)
2. Smooth and nice to touch: soft fur. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/soft/#m2)
3. Quiet and gentle: a soft voice, soft music. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/soft/#m3)
4. Not bright: soft light. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/soft/#m4)
5. Kind and gentle, or too easy on people: soft on rules. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/soft/#m5)
6. Soft drinks: drinks without alcohol. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/soft/#m6)

### In the lessons

In science: materials can be hard or soft; soft materials (cotton, wool, sponge) bend or squash; testing materials for a job. In stories: soft voices and soft light make calm scenes. In everyday life: soft toys, soft drinks (fizzy or sweet drinks). Phrases: soft toy, soft drink, soft voice, soft spot for, soft-boiled egg, softly spoken.

### Examples

- The kitten has soft fur. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/soft/#x1)
- My pillow is soft. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/soft/#x2)
- She spoke in a soft voice. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/soft/#x3)
- Clay is soft before it dries. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/soft/#x4)
- Butter goes soft in the sun. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/soft/#x5)
- I sleep with my soft toy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/soft/#x6)
- Sponge is a soft material. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/soft/#x7)
- Grandpa has a soft spot for our dog. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/soft/#x8)
- Too many soft drinks are bad for your teeth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/soft/#x9)
- Then a soft voice cried from the parlour: [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/soft/#x10)

### Note

Comparisons: softer, softest. Opposites: hard (material), loud (sound), rough (touch). «Soften» (the t is silent) = to make soft.

## In Jewish tradition

In Sefer Yetzirah, soft is one of the two sounds of the seven double letters, the opposite of hard. In Proverbs a soft answer or soft tongue means gentle speech that calms anger and can even break a bone, meaning it overcomes great resistance.

**Interpretation.** The pairs of hard and soft sounds are read as a sign of the opposites in the world, such as strength and weakness, which the letters carry. The tradition reads Proverbs as teaching that gentle words are stronger than harsh ones.

### Examples

- A soft and hard structure, a strong and weak structure. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/soft/#x1)
- The two sounds of each letter are the hard and the soft—the aspirated and the softened. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/soft/#x2)
- The two sounds of each letter are the hard and the soft — the aspirated and the softened. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/soft/#x3)
- A soft answer turneth away wrath; but a grievous word stirreth up anger. (Writings PRO.15.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/soft/#x4)
- By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. (Writings PRO.25.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/soft/#x5)
- Will he make many supplications unto thee? or will he speak soft words unto thee? (Writings JOB.40.27, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/soft/#x6)

### Note

Comparisons: softer, softest. Opposites: hard (material), loud (sound), rough (touch). «Soften» (the t is silent) = to make soft.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «soft» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/soft/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«soft» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/soft.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «soft» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/soft/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«soft» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/soft.html) on Mova free.