gentle

Universal Words 1 calm and kind; doing things in a quiet and careful way: a quiet and gentle man * a gentle voice / laugh / touch * She was the gentlest of nurses. * He lived in a gentler age than ours. * Be gentle with her! * She agreed to come, after a little gentle persuasion. * He looks scary but he's really a gentle giant. 2 (of weather, temperature, etc.) not strong or extreme: a gentle breeze * the gentle swell of the sea * Cook over a gentle heat. 3 having only a small effect; not strong or violent: We went for a gentle stroll. * a little gentle work / exercise * This soap is very gentle on the hands. 4 not steep or sharp: a gentle slope / curve / angle seealsoGENTLY gentleness noun [U] \