delicate

[ del-i-kit ]
See synonyms for delicate on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. fine in texture, quality, construction, etc.: a delicate lace collar.

  2. easily broken or damaged; physically weak; fragile; frail: delicate porcelain;a delicate child.

  1. so fine as to be scarcely perceptible; subtle: a delicate flavor.

  2. soft or faint, as color: a delicate shade of pink.

  3. fine or precise in action or execution; capable of responding to the slightest influence: a delicate instrument.

  4. requiring great care, caution, or tact: a delicate international situation.

  5. distinguishing subtle differences: a delicate eye;a delicate sense of smell.

  6. exquisite or refined in perception or feeling; sensitive.

  7. regardful of what is becoming, proper, etc.: a delicate sense of propriety.

  8. mindful of or sensitive to the feelings of others: a delicate refusal.

  9. dainty or choice, as food: delicate tidbits.

  10. primly fastidious; squeamish: not a movie for the delicate viewer.

  11. Obsolete. sensuous; voluptuous.

noun
  1. Archaic. a choice food; delicacy.

  2. Obsolete. a source of pleasure; luxury.

Origin of delicate

1
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English delicat, from Latin dēlicātus “delightful, dainty”; akin to delicious

synonym study For delicate

1. 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.

Other words for delicate

Opposites for delicate

Other words from delicate

  • 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

Words Nearby delicate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use delicate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for delicate

delicate

/ (ˈdɛlɪkɪt) /


adjective
  1. exquisite, fine, or subtle in quality, character, construction, etc

  2. having a soft or fragile beauty

  1. (of colour, tone, taste, etc) pleasantly subtle, soft, or faint

  2. easily damaged or injured; lacking robustness, esp in health; fragile

  3. precise, skilled, or sensitive in action or operation: a delicate mechanism

  4. requiring tact and diplomacy

  5. sensitive in feeling or manner; showing regard for the feelings of others

  6. excessively refined; squeamish

noun
  1. archaic a delicacy; dainty

Origin of delicate

1
C14: from Latin dēlicātus affording pleasure, from dēliciae (pl) delight, pleasure; see delicious

Derived forms of delicate

  • delicately, adverb
  • delicateness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012