delicate definition | Dictionary.com

del⋅i⋅cate

[del-i-kit]

–adjective

1.	fine in texture, quality, construction, etc.: a delicate lace collar.

2.	fragile; easily damaged; frail: delicate porcelain; a delicate child.

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

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.

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

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

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

14.	Archaic. a choice food; delicacy.

15.	Obsolete. a source of pleasure; luxury.

Origin:
1325–75; ME delicat < L dēlicātus delightful, dainty; akin to delicious

Related forms:

del⋅i⋅cate⋅ly, adverb

del⋅i⋅cate⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
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. 2. tender, slight, weak. 5. exact, accurate. 6. critical, precarious. 7. discriminating, careful.

Antonyms:
1, 2. coarse. 3. hard, crude.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To delicate

del·i·cate (děl'ĭ-kĭt)

adj.

Pleasing to the senses, especially in a subtle way: a delicate flavor; a delicate violin passage.
Exquisitely fine or dainty: delicate china.
Frail in constitution or health.
Easily broken or damaged: a kite too delicate to fly.
Marked by sensitivity of discrimination: a critic's delicate perception.
1. Considerate of the feelings of others.
2. Concerned with propriety.
3. Squeamish or fastidious.
Requiring tactful treatment: a delicate situation.
Fine or soft in touch or skill: a surgeon's delicate touch.
Measuring, indicating, or responding to very small changes; precise: a delicate set of scales.
Very subtle in difference or distinction.

[Middle English delicat and French délicat, both from Latin dēlicātus, pleasing; akin to dēlicia, pleasure; see delicious.]
del'i·cate·ly adv., del'i·cate·ness n.

Synonyms: These adjectives mean appealing to refined taste: a delicate flavor; choice exotic flowers; a dainty dish; elegant handwriting; an exquisite wine; the finest embroidery. See Also Synonyms at fragile.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Delicate

Del"i*cate\, a. [L. delicatus pleasing the senses, voluptuous, soft and tender; akin to deliciae delight: cf. F. d['e]licat. See Delight.]

1. Addicted to pleasure; luxurious; voluptuous; alluring. [R.]

Dives, for his delicate life, to the devil went. --Piers Plowman.

Haarlem is a very delicate town. --Evelyn.

2. Pleasing to the senses; refinedly agreeable; hence, adapted to please a nice or cultivated taste; nice; fine; elegant; as, a delicate dish; delicate flavor.

3. Slight and shapely; lovely; graceful; as, "a delicate creature." --Shak.

4. Fine or slender; minute; not coarse; -- said of a thread, or the like; as, delicate cotton.

5. Slight or smooth; light and yielding; -- said of texture; as, delicate lace or silk.

6. Soft and fair; -- said of the skin or a surface; as, a delicate cheek; a delicate complexion.

7. Light, or softly tinted; -- said of a color; as, a delicate blue.

8. Refined; gentle; scrupulous not to trespass or offend; considerate; -- said of manners, conduct, or feelings; as, delicate behavior; delicate attentions; delicate thoughtfulness.

9. Tender; not able to endure hardship; feeble; frail; effeminate; -- said of constitution, health, etc.; as, a delicate child; delicate health.

A delicate and tender prince. --Shak.

10. Requiring careful handling; not to be rudely or hastily dealt with; nice; critical; as, a delicate subject or question.

There are some things too delicate and too sacred to be handled rudely without injury to truth. --F. W. Robertson.

11. Of exacting tastes and habits; dainty; fastidious.

12. Nicely discriminating or perceptive; refinedly critical; sensitive; exquisite; as, a delicate taste; a delicate ear for music.

13. Affected by slight causes; showing slight changes; as, a delicate thermometer.

Delicate

Del"i*cate\, n. 1. A choice dainty; a delicacy. [R.]

With abstinence all delicates he sees. --Dryden.

2. A delicate, luxurious, or effeminate person.

All the vessels, then, which our delicates have, -- those I mean that would seem to be more fine in their houses than their neighbors, -- are only of the Corinth metal. --Holland.

Language Translation for : delicate

Spanish: delicado, frágil,

German: empfindlich,

Japanese: 細心の扱いを必要とする

More Translations »

delicate

c.1374, from L. delicatus "alluring, delightful, dainty," also "addicted to pleasure," of unknown origin; related by folk etymology (and perhaps genuinely) to deliciæ "a pet," and delicere "to allure, entice." Meaning "feeble in constitution" is c.1400; that of "easily broken" is recorded from 1568. Delicacy "a dainty viand" is from 1450.

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