51³Ō¹Ļ

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delicate

[del-i-kit]

adjective

  1. fine in texture, quality, construction, etc..

    a delicate lace collar.

    Antonyms:
  2. easily broken or damaged; physically weak; fragile; frail.

    delicate porcelain;

    a delicate child.

    Synonyms: , , , , , ,
  3. so fine as to be scarcely perceptible; subtle.

    a delicate flavor.

    Antonyms: ,
  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.

    Synonyms: , , ,
  6. requiring great care, caution, or tact.

    a delicate international situation.

    Synonyms: , ,
  7. distinguishing subtle differences: a delicate sense of smell.

    a delicate eye;

    a delicate sense of smell.

    Synonyms: , ,
  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.Ģżsensuous; voluptuous.



noun

  1. Archaic.Ģża choice food; delicacy.

  2. Obsolete.Ģża source of pleasure; luxury.

delicate

/ ˈ»åɛ±ōÉŖ°ģÉŖ³Ł /

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

ā€œCollins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridgedā€ 2012 Digital Edition Ā© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 Ā© HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. archaicĢża delicacy; dainty

ā€œCollins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridgedā€ 2012 Digital Edition Ā© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 Ā© HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other 51³Ō¹Ļ Forms

  • delicately adverb
  • delicateness noun
  • hyperdelicate adjective
  • hyperdelicateness noun
  • nondelicate adjective
  • nondelicateness noun
  • quasi-delicate adjective
  • superdelicate adjective
  • superdelicateness noun
  • ˈ»å±š±ō¾±³¦²¹³Ł±š±ō²ā adverb
  • ˈ»å±š±ō¾±³¦²¹³Ł±š²Ō±š²õ²õ noun
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51³Ō¹Ļ History and Origins

Origin of delicate1

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English delicat, from Latin »åŧ±ō¾±³¦Äå³Ł³Ü²õ ā€œdelightful, daintyā€; akin to delicious
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51³Ō¹Ļ History and Origins

Origin of delicate1

C14: from Latin »åŧ±ō¾±³¦Äå³Ł³Ü²õ affording pleasure, from »åŧ±ō¾±³¦¾±²¹±š (pl) delight, pleasure; see delicious
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Synonym Study

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.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

ā€œPulsing Lifters,ā€ in an arrangement for two pianos and harpsichord, is like a delicate dew.

From

So sophisticated and delicate in its moon-eyed teenage passions, full of artful melodic moves bolstered by the pure-water harmonies that would define the group.

From

Because radish greens are delicate in texture, they pair well with similar-textured greens rather than firm greens, like iceberg lettuce or romaine.

From

The extension proposed by the government would cover 41 of the UK's 178 MPAs, and would protect rare marine animals and the delicate seabed they rely upon.

From

SafeSport is tasked with an immense, difficult, and delicate responsibility — to adjudicate cases of abuse and help correct decades of imbalance in a system that protected predators instead of athletes.

From

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