(1)(柔)软的(not hard or stiff against pressure)：a～bed/chair/pillow/cover 软床/椅/枕头/封面;～ground/mud/soil 柔软的地面/泥土/土壤;～cheese/green grass 松软的奶酪/柔软的绿草;〖反〗unyielding，stiff，inflexible;

(2)较软的，不及一般硬的(relatively deficient in hardness; less hard than average)： one of the～er metals 较软的金属之一;Pinewood is～er than oak. 松木比橡木软。

(3)柔滑(软)的(smooth，fine or pleasing to the touch;not rough or coarse)：a～grey kitten 柔滑的灰色小猫;～skin/fur 柔滑的皮肤/毛皮;～leather 柔软的皮革;as～as velvet 像天鹅绒一样细软;This silk scarf feels so～. 这丝围巾摸上去非常柔滑。〖同〗smooth，furry，silky，silken;〖反〗rough，harsh，coarse;

(4)轻声(柔)的((of sounds) quiet;not loud or harsh)：a～muffled snore 轻而低沉的鼾声;～music/whispers 轻柔的音乐/低声的耳语;too～to hear 声音太轻听不见;in a～voice 轻声地;sb's～little cry 某人轻声的啜泣;〖同〗faint，muted，gentle;〖反〗loud，strong，noisy;

(5)(光线、颜色等)柔和(不刺眼)的((of light，colours，etc)not brilliant or glaring;pleasant to the eyes)[通常作attrib]：～pink 柔和的粉红色;the～glow of candlelight 柔和的烛光;～lights/pastel colours 柔和的光线/蜡笔色彩;〖同〗gentle，mild，quiet，delicate;〖反〗harsh，loud，glaring，bright;

(6)(风等)轻微(温和)的((of winds，etc)gentle or mild)：a～breeze/tap 和风/轻拍;～spring winds 和煦的春风;bask in the～spring 沐浴在和煦的春光中;

(7)轻松的，不费力的(easy;not difficult)(infml，derog)：a～job/assignment 轻松的工作/任务;lead a～life 过着舒适的生活;〖同〗easy;〖反〗difficult，tough，rough;

(8)温和的，心肠软的，宽厚的(warm-hearted;kind)[A (on/with)]：too～with sb 对某人心肠太软;be～on sth 对某事宽容;have a～heart 有一副好心肠;take a～line with sb 对某人采取温和的方针;〖同〗tender，kind，sympathetic;〖反〗hard;

(9)(言语、答话等)温和(不粗鲁)的((of words，answers，etc) smooth，not harsh or angry)(infml)：～words 温雅的话语;(reply) be～and calm(回答)温和平静;give a～answer to an angry question 温和地回答气愤的提问;

(10)软弱的，松弛的(not strong;delicate)：～muscles 松弛的肌肉;get～after all those years in a desk job 多年在办公室工作而身体虚弱;〖同〗weak;〖反〗strong，tough;

(11)愚蠢的，疯的(foolish or stupid;mad)(infml，derog)：be gone～in the head 变得傻头傻脑的;a～idea 愚蠢的主意;

(12)(辅音)软(不爆破)的((of consonants) not hard)[无comp]：“C” is～in“city”and hard in“corn”. C在city 一词中发软音，而在corn一词中发硬音。

(13)(水)软性(不含无机盐)的((or water)free from certain minerals，esp mineral salts)：～water 软水;The local water is very～. 本地的水很软。〖反〗hard;

(14)(饮料)软(不含酒精)的((of drink) not alcoholic)[无comp]：a～drink/beverage 软饮料;I'd like something～instead of wine. 我想喝点软饮料，而不是酒。

(15)爱上，对……钟情 (feeling attraction for sb)[A(on/about)：He's been～on her for years. 他多年来一直钟情于她。

→′softish adj 相当软的;′softly adv 柔软地;轻柔地;′softness n 柔软;轻柔;′softy，′softie n(infml)柔软的人;过分心软的人;′softball n 垒球;′soft-boiled adj 煮得半熟的;′soften v 使变软;͵soft-′hearted adj 仁慈的，心肠软的;͵soft-′pedal v 使变得不显眼(严重);͵soft-′spoken adj 说话声音柔和的;′software n 软件;′softwood n 软木