mīksts

• (dialectal forms) miksts, mīksns

From the past participle of an old (still dialectally attested) verb mīkt, mīkst (“to become soft”), from Proto-Baltic *mink-, Proto-Balto-Slavic *minˀkas, from Proto-Indo-European *menk-, *mn̥k- (“to knead, to crush”).

The original meaning referred to the final state of things that one kneads or crushes (compare English verb to squash and adjective squashy). Cognates include Lithuanian mìnkštas, Old Church Slavonic мѧкъкъ (mękŭkŭ), Russian мя́гкий (mjáxkij), Belarusian мя́кки (mjákki), Ukrainian м'яки́й (mʺjakýj), Bulgarian мек (mek), Czech měkký, Polish miękki.[1]

• IPA^(key): [mîːksts]

mīksts (definite mīkstais, comparative mīkstāks, superlative vismīkstākais, adverb mīksti)

1. (of objects, substances) soft (relatively easy to bend, split, crush, etc.; made of such materials, substances)

   mīksta mīkla, masa ― soft dough, mass

   mīksta koksne ― softwood

   mīksts metāls ― soft metal

   grāmata mīkstos vākos ― paperback (lit. book in soft cover)

   mīksts zīmulis ― soft pencil (with lead that wears out quickly)

   gumija sasilstot kļūst mīksta ― rubber becomes soft when heated

   mīksta augsne ― soft soil

   mīksts māls, sniegs ― soft clay, snow

   mīksts ceļš ― soft path

   mīkstais arums ― soft plowing

2. (of fabric, leather) soft (flexible, not resistant, not strong, not twisted)

   mīksts audums, paklājs, kažoks ― soft fabric, carpet, coat

   mīksta vate, aitāda ― soft sheepskin

   mīksti cimdi ― soft gloves

   mīkstas kurpes ― soft shoes

   mīksts pavediens ― soft (not twisted) thread

3. (of furniture, cushions, etc.) soft (not resistant to pressure; pleasant, comfortable)

   mīksts dīvāns, spilvens ― soft sofa, pillow

   mīksts krēsls, matracis ― soft chair, matras

   mīkstas mēbeles ― soft furniture

4. (of means of transportation) provided with soft seats or beds

   mīkstais vagons ― soft train car

   mēs braucām naktī ar mīksto autobusu no Debinas ― we traveled at night with the soft bus from Debina

5. (of folds in clothes) soft, not sharp

   mīkstas krokas, mīksti krokojumi ― soft folds

6. (of events, processes, actions) soft (happening without much resistance)

   gājēju kājas mīksti grimst sniegā ― the feet of the passers-by sink softly in the snow

7. (of living tissues, body parts, plants) soft (relatively easy to bend, squeeze)

   mīkstie audi ― soft tissues

   mīksts kauls ― soft bone

   mīkstās aukslējas ― soft palate

   mīksts stublājs, grauds ― soft stem, grain

   mīkstie kvieši ― soft wheat

   mīksta sūna ― soft moss

8. (of skin) soft (not hard, not harsh)

   mīksta sejas āda ― soft facial skin

   rokas tev ir gluži mīkstas ― your hands are really soft

9. (of hair or feathers, of animals having hair or feathers) soft (really delicate, fine)

   mīksti mati ― soft hair

   mīksts cālēns ― soft chick, poussin

   kucēna mīkstā spalva ― a puppy's soft fur

10. (colloquial, of people, body parts) plump, slightly overweight

    konditorejā aiz letes sēdēja un adīja apaļa, mīksta dāma ― in the patisserie behind the counter (there) was a round, soft (= overweight) lady sitting and knitting

11. (of food) soft (easy to bite and chew)

    mīksta gaļa, maize ― soft meat, bread

    mīksts siers, ābols ― soft cheese, apple

    mīksta ola ― soft egg (only slightly boiled)

12. (of people, their character, will) soft, weak

    mans raksturs vēl nav norūdījies, tas vēl mīksts kā vasks ― my character is not yet seasoned, it is still soft as wax

    priekšsēdētāja vietnieks tomēr izrādījās par mīkstu un neuzņēmīgu radikāliem pasākumiem ― the vice-president, however, turned out to be soft and resistant to radical measures

13. (of behavior, actions) soft (relatively moderate, not harsh, forgiving, gentle)

    mīksts sods ― soft penalty, punishment

    atrast mīkstākus vārdus ― to find softer words

14. (of sounds) soft, low

    mīksti soļi ― soft steps

    mīksts, sievišķīgs tenors ― soft, feminine tenor

15. (of lights) soft, dim, not bright

    plaša un spilgta bija šī aina rietošās saules mīkstajā gaismā ― spacious and bright was this picture in the soft light of the setting sun

16. (of weather) mild, soft, pleasant (especially if unusual)

    mīksta ziema ― mild winter

    mīksts vējš ― soft wind

17. (of lines, forms, lights) soft, not sharp, not clear, dim

    Anitas ēnas mīkstas līnijas ― the soft lines of Anita's shadow

    mīksta tumsa, krēsla ― soft darkness, twilight

    māksliniekam raksturīgas arī mīkstas, smalkām niansēm bagatās pārejas no tumšā uz gaišo ― typical of (this) artist are also soft transitions from dark to light, full of subtle nuances

18. (of water) soft (containing little or no salts, usually of calcium and magnesium)

    vislabāk mazgāt matus mīksta ūdeņi ― it is best to wash one's hair in soft water

19. (rare, of sleep) soft, calm (syn. ciešs)

    mīksts miegs nāca šonakt Silmežam ― a soft sleep came tonight to Silmežs

• (of sleep): ciešs

• (antonym(s) of “of "soft", including "soft water"”): ciets

• mīkstums