ENGLISH
REFERENCE

gentle

adj. · v. · n.
US //ˈdʒɛnəɫ// UK //dʒˈɛntəl// gen·tle
  1. 1 kind and calm (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    kind, calm, and careful not to hurt or upset anyone.

    having or showing a mild, kind, or tender temperament.

    Example

    He was a gentle man who never raised his voice at his children.

    Example

    The nurse was remarkably gentle with the elderly patients, taking care to explain every procedure in a soothing tone.
  2. 2 soft or light (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    not strong, loud, or violent.

    moderate in force, intensity, or degree; not harsh or severe.

    Example

    A gentle breeze blew through the open window during the afternoon.

    Example

    The recipe requires gentle heat to ensure the delicate sauce does not break or curdle during the reduction process.
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  1. 3 gradual slope (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    rising or falling slowly rather than being very steep.

    having a low or moderate gradient; not steep or abrupt.

    Example

    The path up the hill is a gentle slope that is easy to walk.

    Example

    The road follows a gentle incline toward the summit, making it accessible for amateur cyclists despite the overall elevation gain.
  2. 4 to calm or tame (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Literary

    to make a person or animal calm and peaceful.

    to make someone or something calm, or to domesticate an animal through kind treatment.

    Example

    She spoke softly to the frightened horse to gentle it.

    Example

    Years of patient interaction helped to gentle the wild stallion until it finally accepted a rider without resistance.
  3. 5 fishing bait (n.)
    C2 Proficiency British English Technical Cooking

    a small worm or maggot used to catch fish.

    a maggot, specifically the larva of a blowfly, used as live bait by anglers.

    Example

    The fisherman bought a tin of gentles before heading to the river.

    Example

    Experienced anglers often prefer gentles for catching smaller river fish like roach or dace during the summer months.

    Usage

    Usually used in the plural when referring to a container of bait.
  4. 6 a person of high birth (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic

    a person born into a high social class or a good family.

    a person of noble or respectable birth and social standing.

    Example

    The old stories tell of gentles and commoners working together.

    Example

    In the medieval social hierarchy, the distinction between gentles and the peasantry was enforced by both law and custom.
Origin

From Middle English gentil (“courteous, noble”), from Old French gentil (“high-born, noble”), from Latin gentilis (“of the same family or clan”), from gens (“[Roman] clan”). Doublet of gentile, genteel, and jaunty.

Word family
Idioms3 entries

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