Something that is delicate is small and beautifully shaped.
He had delicate hands.
...an evergreen tree with large flame-coloured leaves and delicate blossom.
delicatelyadverb [ADVERB adjective/-ed]
She was a shy, delicately pretty girl with enormous blue eyes.
2. adjective
Something that is delicate has a colour, taste, or smell which is pleasant and not strong or intense.
Young haricot beans have a tender texture and a delicate, subtle flavour.
The colours are delicate and shimmering.
Synonyms: subtle, fine, nice, soft More Synonyms of delicate
delicatelyadverb [ADVERB -ed/adjective]
...a soup delicately flavoured with nutmeg.
Synonyms: finely, lightly, subtly, softly More Synonyms of delicate
3. adjective
If something is delicate, it is easy to harm, damage, or break, and needs to be handled or treated carefully.
Although the coral looks hard, it is very delicate.
...a washing machine catering for every fabric–even the most delicate.
Synonyms: fragile, weak, frail, brittle More Synonyms of delicate
4. adjective [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]
Someone who is delicate is not healthy and strong, and becomes ill easily.
She was physically delicate and psychologically unstable.
Synonyms: sickly, weak, ailing, frail More Synonyms of delicate
5. adjective
You use delicate to describe a situation, problem, matter, or discussion that needs to be dealt with carefully and sensitively in order to avoid upsetting things or offending people.
The members are afraid of upsetting the delicate balance of political interests.
This sensitive book tackles the delicate issue of adoption with care and simplicity.
She turned to Mary Ann. 'This is kind of delicate. Would you excuse us for a moment?'
delicatelyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
Clearly, the situation remains delicately poised.
...a delicately-worded memo.
Synonyms: tactfully, carefully, subtly, discreetly More Synonyms of delicate
6. adjective
A delicate task, movement, action, or product needs or shows great skill and attention to detail.
...a long and delicate operation carried out at a hospital in Florence.
Each motion must be delicate and precise, involving tiny movements.
delicatelyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
She picked her way delicately over the rocks.
...the delicately embroidered sheets.
More Synonyms of delicate
delicate in British English
(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
9. archaic
a delicacy; dainty
Derived forms
delicately (ˈdelicately)
adverb
delicateness (ˈdelicateness)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Latin dēlicātus affording pleasure, from dēliciae (pl) delight, pleasure; see delicious
delicate in American English
(ˈdɛlɪkɪt)
adjective
1.
pleasing in its lightness, mildness, subtlety, etc.
a delicate flavor, odor, or color
2.
beautifully fine in texture, quality, or workmanship
delicate linen, delicate skin
3.
slight and subtle
a delicate difference
4.
easily damaged, spoiled, or disordered
a delicate vase, a delicate stomach
5.
frail in health
a delicate child
6.
a.
needing careful handling, tact, etc.
a delicate situation
b.
showing tact, consideration, etc.
7.
finely sensitive in feeling, understanding, discriminating, or responding
a delicate ear for music, a delicate gauge
8.
finely skilled
9.
having or showing a sensitive or, sometimes, finicky distaste for what is considered offensive or improper
noun
10. Archaic
a delicacy; dainty
SYNONYMY NOTE: delicate, dainty are both used to describe things that are pleasing to highly refined tastes or sensibilities,, delicate implying fragility, subtlety, or fineness, and , dainty, smallness, fastidiousness, or gracefulness; , exquisite is applied to something so delicately wrought or subtly refined as to be appreciatedby only the most keenly discriminating or fastidious
OPPOSITES: gross, crude, coarse
Derived forms
delicately (ˈdelicately)
adverb
delicateness (ˈdelicateness)
noun
Word origin
ME delicat < L delicatus, giving pleasure, delightful < *delicare, for OL delicere, to allure, entice < de-, intens. + lacere: see delight
Examples of 'delicate' in a sentence
delicate
I drank the bottom two fingers of my Red Label, hoping it would speed up my understanding of such delicate matters.
Robert Wilson A DARKENING STAIN (2002)
Half an hour later, a small posy arrived, tiny delicate flowers.
Anita Anderson SOMEBODY (2002)
The negotiations I mean to pursue are of the most delicate nature.
Elizabeth Peters LION IN THE VALLEY (2002)
In other languages
delicate
British English: delicate /ˈdɛlɪkɪt/ ADJECTIVE
Something that is delicate is small and beautifully shaped.