In the context of industrial machinery, "soft foot" refers to an undesirable condition where one or more of the machine's feet (support points) are not properly leveled or have irregularities. This can result in an uneven distribution of load and stress on the machine, leading to issues such as misalignment, increased vibration, and potential damage to the equipment.

The term "soft" in this case does not imply that the foot or support point is physically soft or pliable. Instead, it describes the undesirable characteristic of the foot not providing a firm and stable support for the machine. The term "reading" refers to the measurement or assessment being performed to determine the presence or severity of soft foot.