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delicate

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del⋅i⋅cate

  [del-i-kit]
Use delicate in a Sentence
–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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del·i·cate   (děl'ĭ-kĭt)   
adj.  

  1. Pleasing to the senses, especially in a subtle way: a delicate flavor; a delicate violin passage.

  2. Exquisitely fine or dainty: delicate china.

  3. Frail in constitution or health.

  4. Easily broken or damaged: a kite too delicate to fly.

  5. 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.

  7. Requiring tactful treatment: a delicate situation.

  8. Fine or soft in touch or skill: a surgeon's delicate touch.

  9. Measuring, indicating, or responding to very small changes; precise: a delicate set of scales.

  10. 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.
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