delicacy

[ del-i-kuh-see ]

noun

, plural del·i·ca·cies.

1. fineness of texture, quality, etc.; softness; daintiness:

   the delicacy of lace.

   Antonyms: coarseness

2. something delightful or pleasing, especially a choice food considered with regard to its rarity, costliness, or the like:

   Caviar is a great delicacy.

3. the quality of being easily broken or damaged; fragility.
4. the quality of requiring or involving great care or tact:

   negotiations of great delicacy.

5. extreme sensitivity; precision of action or operation; minute accuracy:

   the delicacy of a skillful surgeon's touch; a watch mechanism of unusual delicacy.

   Synonyms: discrimination, sensitivity, circumspection, consideration, prudence

6. fineness of perception or feeling; sensitiveness:

   the delicacy of the pianist's playing.

   Antonyms: coarseness

7. fineness of feeling with regard to what is fitting, proper, etc.:

   Delicacy would not permit her to be rude.

8. sensitivity with regard to the feelings of others:

   She criticized him with such delicacy that he was not offended.

9. bodily weakness; liability to sickness; frailty.
10. Linguistics. (especially in systemic linguistics) the degree of minuteness pursued at a given stage of analysis in specifying distinctions in linguistic description.
11. Obsolete. sensuous indulgence; luxury.

delicacy

/ ˈdɛlɪkəsɪ /

noun

1. fine or subtle quality, character, construction, etc

   delicacy of craftsmanship

2. fragile, soft, or graceful beauty
3. something that is considered choice to eat, such as caviar
4. fragile construction or constitution; frailty
5. refinement of feeling, manner, or appreciation

   the delicacy of the orchestra's playing

6. fussy or squeamish refinement, esp in matters of taste, propriety, etc
7. need for tactful or sensitive handling
8. accuracy or sensitivity of response or operation, as of an instrument
9. (in systemic grammar) the level of detail at which a linguistic description is made; the degree of fine distinction in a linguistic description
10. obsolete.
    gratification, luxury, or voluptuousness

Other Words From

• hyper·deli·ca·cy noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of delicacy¹

First recorded in 1325–75, delicacy is from the Middle English word delicasie. See delicate, -cy

Example Sentences

Made from a blend of sheep and goat's milk, this ancient delicacy likely resembled chevre in its consistency when fresh.

From Salon

This was Due’s first piccadilly, a delicacy whose origins are debated, but can be traced to either the Navajo, the Tohono O’odham Reservation, or the Hopi village Moenkopi.

From Los Angeles Times

Today, crickets and silkworms are commonly sold as snacks at night markets in Thailand, while diners in Mexico City pay hundreds of dollars for ant larvae, a dish once considered a delicacy by the Aztecs, who ruled the region in the 15th and 16th Centuries.

From BBC

According to the indictment, the duck delicacy was gifted to Ms Sun - and sent directly to her parents' home - on at least 16 different occasions.

From BBC

But the deep fried delicacy has seen the biggest price increase of some of the UK’s most popular takeaways, according to new figures.

From BBC

Related Words

• elegance
• fragility
• lightness
• subtlety
• tenderness