DELICATE

delicate

(adjective) exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury; “a delicate violin passage”; “delicate china”; “a delicate flavor”; “the delicate wing of a butterfly”

delicate, fragile, frail

(adjective) easily broken or damaged or destroyed; “a kite too delicate to fly safely”; “fragile porcelain plates”; “fragile old bones”; “a frail craft”

delicate, ticklish, touchy

(adjective) difficult to handle; requiring great tact; “delicate negotiations with the big powers”; “hesitates to be explicit on so ticklish a matter”; “a touchy subject”

finespun, delicate

(adjective) developed with extreme delicacy and subtlety; “the satire touches with finespun ridicule every kind of human pretense”

delicate

(adjective) of an instrument or device; capable of registering minute differences or changes precisely; “almost undetectable with even the most delicate instruments”

delicate

(adjective) marked by great skill especially in meticulous technique; “a surgeon’s delicate touch”

delicate, soft

(adjective) easily hurt; “soft hands”; “a baby’s delicate skin”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Adjective

delicate (comparative more delicate, superlative most delicate)

Easily damaged or requiring careful handling.

Characterized by a fine structure or thin lines.

Intended for use with fragile items.

Refined; gentle; scrupulous not to trespass or offend; considerate; said of manners, conduct, or feelings.

Of weak health; easily sick; unable to endure hardship.

(informal) Unwell, especially because of having drunk too much alcohol.

(obsolete) Addicted to pleasure; luxurious; voluptuous; alluring.

Pleasing to the senses; refined; adapted to please an elegant or cultivated taste.

Slight and shapely; lovely; graceful.

Light, or softly tinted; said of a colour.

Of exacting tastes and habits; dainty; fastidious.

Highly discriminating or perceptive; refinedly critical; sensitive; exquisite.

Affected by slight causes; showing slight changes.

Synonyms

• (easily damaged): fragile

Noun

delicate (plural delicates)

A delicate item of clothing, especially underwear or lingerie.

(obsolete) A choice dainty; a delicacy.

(obsolete) A delicate, luxurious, or effeminate person.

Source: Wiktionary

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Del"i*cate, a. Etym: [L. delicatus pleasing the senses, voluptuous, soft and tender; akin to deliciae delight: cf. F. délicat. 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; 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; 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.

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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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