soft serve

American  

[sawft surv, soft] / ˈsɔft ˌsɜrv, ˈsɒft /

noun

1. a smooth-textured, soft ice cream that is aerated in a machine to reduce its density and pumped into a cone or cup rather than scooped like traditional hard-packed ice cream.

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Other Word Forms

• soft-serve
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of soft serve

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

soft serve

Her brick-and-mortar business specializes in New Orleans-style shaved ice, called Snoballs, but Monconduit was looking for a cart to serve beignets and soft serve at corporate events and birthday parties.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026

Ramirez made the cart “based entirely on what was in my head” and even made the soft serve machine removable, Monconduit said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026

The 31-year-old Mexican tourist walked out with a cone of vanilla and chocolate swirl soft serve.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

Beyond water ice, they offer popcorn, soft serve, and the Motown Twist — a playful combo of soft serve and water ice.

From Salon ● Sep. 3, 2025

Cover again and when the crackers are soft, serve in soup plates.

From Home Pork Making by A. W. Fulton