delicate

[ del-i-kit ]

adjective

1. fine in texture, quality, construction, etc.:

   a delicate lace collar.

   Antonyms: coarse

2. easily broken or damaged; physically weak; fragile; frail:

   delicate porcelain;

   a delicate child.

   Synonyms: tender, slight, feeble, weak, frangible, flimsy, brittle

3. so fine as to be scarcely perceptible; subtle:

   a delicate flavor.

   Antonyms: strong, robust

4. soft or faint, as color:

   a delicate shade of pink.

5. fine or precise in action or execution; capable of responding to the slightest influence:

   a delicate instrument.

   Synonyms: true, accurate, precise, exact

6. requiring great care, caution, or tact:

   a delicate international situation.

   Synonyms: touchy, sensitive, tricky

7. distinguishing subtle differences: a delicate sense of smell.

   a delicate eye;

   a delicate sense of smell.

   Synonyms: perceptive, discriminating, discerning

8. exquisite or refined in perception or feeling; sensitive.
9. regardful of what is becoming, proper, etc.:

   a delicate sense of propriety.

10. mindful of or sensitive to the feelings of others:

    a delicate refusal.

11. dainty or choice, as food:

    delicate tidbits.

12. primly fastidious; squeamish:

    not a movie for the delicate viewer.

13. Obsolete. sensuous; voluptuous.

noun

1. Archaic. a choice food; delicacy.
2. Obsolete. a source of pleasure; luxury.

delicate

/ ˈdɛlɪkɪt /

adjective

1. exquisite, fine, or subtle in quality, character, construction, etc
2. having a soft or fragile beauty
3. (of colour, tone, taste, etc) pleasantly subtle, soft, or faint
4. easily damaged or injured; lacking robustness, esp in health; fragile
5. precise, skilled, or sensitive in action or operation

   a delicate mechanism

6. requiring tact and diplomacy
7. sensitive in feeling or manner; showing regard for the feelings of others
8. excessively refined; squeamish

noun

1. archaic.
   a delicacy; dainty

Derived Forms

• ˈdelicately, adverb
• ˈdelicateness, noun

Other Words From

• del·i·cate·ly adverb
• del·i·cate·ness noun
• hy·per·del·i·cate adjective
• hy·per·del·i·cate·ness noun
• non·del·i·cate adjective
• non·del·i·cate·ness noun
• qua·si-del·i·cate adjective
• su·per·del·i·cate adjective
• su·per·del·i·cate·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of delicate¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English delicat, from Latin dēlicātus “delightful, dainty”; akin to delicious

Word History and Origins

Origin of delicate¹

C14: from Latin dēlicātus affording pleasure, from dēliciae (pl) delight, pleasure; see delicious

Synonym Study

Delicate, dainty, exquisite imply beauty such as belongs to rich surroundings or which needs careful treatment. Delicate, used of an object, suggests fragility, small size, and often very fine workmanship: a delicate piece of carving. Dainty, in concrete references, suggests a smallness, gracefulness, and beauty that forbid rough handling: a dainty handkerchief; of persons, it refers to fastidious sensibilities: dainty in eating habits. Exquisite suggests an outstanding beauty and elegance, or a discriminating sensitivity and ability to perceive fine distinctions: an exquisite sense of humor.

Example Sentences

It hosts a major American air base and has handled many delicate political negotiations, including with Iran, the Taliban and Russia.

From BBC

The two were delicate like bombs whenever they witnessed anyone displaying the slightest bit of uncertainty.

From Salon

This injection of metals and other compounds into the upper atmosphere has the potential to disturb the delicate balance of elements and molecules in the air, the letter argues.

From Los Angeles Times

"Shrinking" gives its audience a raw glimpse of a young person's grief and mental illness and handles it with delicate sincerity and sometimes a little mess.

From Salon

But I have always been a sensitive, delicate, please-leave-the-light-on sort of fellow.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• delicious
• delightful
• elegant
• exquisite
• fragile
• gentle
• graceful
• mild
• rare
• soft
• subtle
• tender