1. Pleasing to the senses, especially in a subtle way: a delicate flavor; a delicate violin passage.2. Exquisitely fine or dainty: delicate china.3. Frail in constitution or health. 4. Easily broken or damaged: a kite too delicate to fly.5. Marked by sensitivity of discrimination: a critic's delicate perception.6a. Considerate of the feelings of others. b. Concerned with propriety. c. Squeamish or fastidious. 7. Requiring tactful treatment: a delicate situation.8. Fine or soft in touch or skill: a surgeon's delicate touch.9. Measuring, indicating, or responding to very small changes; precise: a delicate set of scales.10. Very subtle in difference or distinction.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English delicat and French délicat, both from Latin dlictus, pleasing; akin to akin to dlicia, pleasure. See delicious.
OTHER FORMS:
deli·cate·ly —ADVERB deli·cate·ness —NOUN
SYNONYMS:
delicate, choice, dainty, elegant, exquisite, fine1 These adjectives mean appealing to refined taste: a delicate flavor; choice exotic flowers; a dainty dish; elegant handwriting; an exquisite wine; the finest embroidery. See also synonyms at fragile.
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tus, pleasing; akin to akin to d
