51Թ

Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

delicacy

[del-i-kuh-see]

noun

plural

delicacies 
  1. fineness of texture, quality, etc.; softness; daintiness.

    the delicacy of lace.

    Antonyms:
  2. something delightful or pleasing, especially a choice food considered with regard to its rarity, costliness, or the like.

    Caviar is a great delicacy.

  3. the quality of being easily broken or damaged; fragility.

  4. the quality of requiring or involving great care or tact.

    negotiations of great delicacy.

  5. extreme sensitivity; precision of action or operation; minute accuracy.

    the delicacy of a skillful surgeon's touch; a watch mechanism of unusual delicacy.

    Synonyms: , , , ,
  6. fineness of perception or feeling; sensitiveness.

    the delicacy of the pianist's playing.

    Antonyms:
  7. fineness of feeling with regard to what is fitting, proper, etc..

    Delicacy would not permit her to be rude.

  8. sensitivity with regard to the feelings of others.

    She criticized him with such delicacy that he was not offended.

  9. bodily weakness; liability to sickness; frailty.

  10. Linguistics.(especially in systemic linguistics) the degree of minuteness pursued at a given stage of analysis in specifying distinctions in linguistic description.

  11. Obsolete.sensuous indulgence; luxury.



delicacy

/ ˈɛɪəɪ /

noun

  1. fine or subtle quality, character, construction, etc

    delicacy of craftsmanship

  2. fragile, soft, or graceful beauty

  3. something that is considered choice to eat, such as caviar

  4. fragile construction or constitution; frailty

  5. refinement of feeling, manner, or appreciation

    the delicacy of the orchestra's playing

  6. fussy or squeamish refinement, esp in matters of taste, propriety, etc

  7. need for tactful or sensitive handling

  8. accuracy or sensitivity of response or operation, as of an instrument

  9. (in systemic grammar) the level of detail at which a linguistic description is made; the degree of fine distinction in a linguistic description

  10. obsoletegratification, luxury, or voluptuousness

“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
Discover More

Other 51Թ Forms

  • hyperdelicacy noun
Discover More

51Թ History and Origins

Origin of delicacy1

First recorded in 1325–75, delicacy is from the Middle English word delicasie. See delicate, -cy
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Instead of the traditional party — and an accompanying feast of pizza, papusas and other Mexican and Central American delicacies — students handed in their borrowed instruments Friday and quietly said their farewells.

From

It takes enormous skill and dedication to find the delicacy in such theatrical grandeur.

From

Radish greens are a delicacy in Bengali cuisine.

From

But the 36-year-old fears that his dogs could end up being eaten - as they are considered a delicacy in some parts of southern Nigeria.

From

The pair admitted there was "no limit" on how far they would travel to sample a delicacy.

From

Advertisement

Related 51Թs

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


Delibesdelicate