delicate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. 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
  2. adjective satellite marked by great skill especially in meticulous technique
    • a surgeon's delicate touch
  3. adjective satellite easily broken or damaged or destroyed
    fragile; frail.
    • a kite too delicate to fly safely
    • fragile porcelain plates
    • fragile old bones
    • a frail craft
  4. adjective satellite easily hurt
    soft.
    • soft hands
    • a baby's delicate skin
  5. adjective satellite developed with extreme delicacy and subtlety
    finespun.
    • the satire touches with finespun ridicule every kind of human pretense
  6. adjective satellite difficult to handle; requiring great tact
    touchy; ticklish.
    • delicate negotiations with the big powers
    • hesitates to be explicit on so ticklish a matter
    • a touchy subject
  7. adjective satellite of an instrument or device; capable of registering minute differences or changes precisely
    • almost undetectable with even the most delicate instruments

WordNet

Del"i*cate adjective
Etymology
L. delicatus pleasing the senses, voluptuous, soft and tender; akin to deliciae delight: cf. F. délicat. See Delight.
Definitions
  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 noun
Definitions
  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.

Webster 1913