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: tricky, touchy, sensitive

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

Trimming nose hairs is delicate, personal business, and the Norelco has that firmly in mind.

From Popular-Science

The sheer glass makes for a delicate and unique way to display plants.

From Popular-Science

There’s an air intake on each side, and the entire back of the machine is vented to funnel hot air away from the delicate components inside.

From Popular-Science

The demo showed it stacking several delicate wine glasses on top of each other on an unfamiliar surface.

From Popular-Science

Worse, he said, is that he had spent years digging and rigging holes to water cattle based on where rain pools, a delicate system that would be jeopardized by trenching and construction.

From ProPublica

The scenes between Johansson and Adam Pearson, a man with neurofibromatosis, are some of the most delicate and visceral this year.

From The Daily Beast

She used electrolysis to banish the prickly hair from her delicate face.

From The Daily Beast

It's about the delicate fabric of the universe and how our fragile insides crumble when that fabric is torn.

From The Daily Beast

For those with a predilection for immaculately fine and delicate paintings by Botticelli, his Madonna of the Book will satisfy.

From The Daily Beast

Its spine, too, “‘hubbed’ as the most prized European classics are,” is decorated with delicate gold squiggles and a star.

From The Daily Beast

The flowers grow in clusters from the extremities of the stalk; they are yellow externally and of a delicate red within.

From Project Gutenberg

This Captain Kirton was really the best of the Kirton bunch: a quiet, unassuming young man, somewhat delicate in health.

From Project Gutenberg

Isabel had a glimpse of a delicate high-bred face set like a panel in a parted curtain.

From Project Gutenberg

Indifferent health, for he was delicate too, was one of the bonds between us.

From Project Gutenberg

Not to smoke at all in the presence of a superior, is held the most delicate homage which can be paid him.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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