Found 2 items, similar to soft palate.
English → English (WordNet) Definition: soft palate soft palate n : a muscular flap that closes off the nasopharynx during swallowing or speaking [syn: velum]
English → English (gcide) Definition: Soft palate Soft \Soft\ (s[o^]ft; 115), a. [Compar. Softer (s[o^]ft"[~e]r); superl. Softest.] [OE. softe, AS. s[=o]fte, properly adv. of s[=e]fte, adj.; akin to OS. s[=a]fto, adv., D. zacht, OHG. samfto, adv., semfti, adj., G. sanft, LG. sacht; of uncertain origin.] 1. Easily yielding to pressure; easily impressed, molded, or cut; not firm in resisting; impressible; yielding; also, malleable; -- opposed to hard; as, a soft bed; a soft peach; soft earth; soft wood or metal. [1913 Webster] 2. Not rough, rugged, or harsh to the touch; smooth; delicate; fine; as, soft silk; a soft skin. [1913 Webster] They that wear soft clothing are in king's houses. --Matt. xi. 8. [1913 Webster] 3. Hence, agreeable to feel, taste, or inhale; not irritating to the tissues; as, a soft liniment; soft wines. “The soft, delicious air.” --Milton. [1913 Webster] 4. Not harsh or offensive to the sight; not glaring; pleasing to the eye; not exciting by intensity of color or violent contrast; as, soft hues or tints. [1913 Webster] The sun, shining upon the upper part of the clouds . . . made the softest lights imaginable. --Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster] 5. Not harsh or rough in sound; gentle and pleasing to the ear; flowing; as, soft whispers of music. [1913 Webster] Her voice was ever soft, Gentle, and low, -- an excellent thing in woman. --Shak. [1913 Webster] Soft were my numbers; who could take offense? --Pope. [1913 Webster] 6. Easily yielding; susceptible to influence; flexible; gentle; kind. [1913 Webster] I would to God my heart were flint, like Edward's; Or Edward's soft and pitiful, like mine. --Shak. [1913 Webster] The meek or soft shall inherit the earth. --Tyndale. [1913 Webster] 7. Expressing gentleness, tenderness, or the like; mild; conciliatory; courteous; kind; as, soft eyes. [1913 Webster] A soft answer turneth away wrath. --Prov. xv. 1. [1913 Webster] A face with gladness overspread, Soft smiles, by human kindness bred. --Wordsworth. [1913 Webster] 8. Effeminate; not courageous or manly, weak. [1913 Webster] A longing after sensual pleasures is a dissolution of the spirit of a man, and makes it loose, soft, and wandering. --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster] 9. Gentle in action or motion; easy. [1913 Webster] On her soft axle, white she paces even, And bears thee soft with the smooth air along. --Milton. [1913 Webster] 10. Weak in character; impressible. [1913 Webster] The deceiver soon found this soft place of Adam's. --Glanvill. [1913 Webster] 11. Somewhat weak in intellect. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster] He made soft fellows stark noddies, and such as were foolish quite mad. --Burton. [1913 Webster] 12. Quiet; undisturbed; paceful; as, soft slumbers. [1913 Webster] 13. Having, or consisting of, a gentle curve or curves; not angular or abrupt; as, soft outlines. [1913 Webster] 14. Not tinged with mineral salts; adapted to decompose soap; as, soft water is the best for washing. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] Soft clam (Zo["o]l.), the common or long clam (Mya arenaria ). See Mya. Soft coal, bituminous coal, as distinguished from anthracite, or hard, coal. Soft crab (Zo["o]l.), any crab which has recently shed its shell. Soft dorsal (Zo["o]l.), 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 (Zo["o]l.), 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 (Zo["o]l.), any river tortoise of the genus Trionyx. See Trionyx. [1913 Webster]