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

Other Word Forms

• delicately adverb
• delicateness noun
• hyperdelicate adjective
• hyperdelicateness noun
• nondelicate adjective
• nondelicateness noun
• quasi-delicate adjective
• superdelicate adjective
• superdelicateness 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

But when a particular star is in demand, it can be tricky to strike the delicate balance between saying yes to work while not taking on too much.

From BBC

At this stage, a calf's immune system is in a delicate balance and it can become overwhelmed.

From BBC

A delicate balancing act of romance, comedy and whimsy, the film now actually feels a little overworked, as if Anderson was wrestling certain internal impulses in trying to purposefully make something light.

From Los Angeles Times

"It's delicate hands that are needed for a delicate fruit," Rebecca Bonzo, a supervisor at Campbell's farm, tells the BBC in the Shona language.

From BBC

But noisy neighbours risk disrupting nature's delicate equilibrium.

From BBC

Related Words

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