DELICATE
Dictionary entry overview: What does delicate mean?
• DELICATE (adjective)
The adjective DELICATE has 7 senses:
1. exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
2. marked by great skill especially in meticulous technique
3. easily broken or damaged or destroyed
4. easily hurt
5. developed with extreme delicacy and subtlety
6. difficult to handle; requiring great tact
7. of an instrument or device; capable of registering minute differences or changes precisely
Familiarity information: DELICATE used as an adjective is common.
Dictionary entry details
• DELICATE (adjective)
Meaning:
Exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
Context examples:
a delicate violin passage / delicate china / a delicate flavor / the delicate wing of a butterfly
Similar:
tender ((of plants) not hardy; easily killed by adverse growing condition)
subtle (faint and difficult to analyze)
pastel (lacking in body or vigor)
overdelicate (extremely delicate)
light-handed (having a metaphorically delicate touch)
half-hardy ((of plants) requiring protection from frost)
fragile (vulnerably delicate)
ethereal; gossamer (characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy)
dainty; exquisite (delicately beautiful)
Also:
weak (having little physical or spiritual strength)
breakable (capable of being broken or damaged)
frail (physically weak)
Attribute:
strength (the property of being physically or mentally strong)
Antonym:
rugged (sturdy and strong in constitution or construction; enduring)
Meaning:
Marked by great skill especially in meticulous technique
Context example:
a surgeon's delicate touch
Similar:
skilled (having or showing or requiring special skill)
Meaning:
Easily broken or damaged or destroyed
Synonyms:
fragile; delicate; frail
Context examples:
a kite too delicate to fly safely / fragile porcelain plates / fragile old bones / a frail craft
Similar:
breakable (capable of being broken or damaged)
Meaning:
Easily hurt
Synonyms:
delicate; soft
Context examples:
soft hands / a baby's delicate skin
Similar:
tender; untoughened (physically untoughened)
Meaning:
Developed with extreme delicacy and subtlety
Synonyms:
finespun; delicate
Context example:
the satire touches with finespun ridicule every kind of human pretense
Similar:
refined ((used of persons and their behavior) cultivated and genteel)
Meaning:
Difficult to handle; requiring great tact
Synonyms:
ticklish; touchy; delicate
Context examples:
delicate negotiations with the big powers / hesitates to be explicit on so ticklish a matter / a touchy subject
Similar:
difficult; hard (not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure)
Meaning:
Of an instrument or device; capable of registering minute differences or changes precisely
Context example:
almost undetectable with even the most delicate instruments
Similar:
sensitive (responsive to physical stimuli)
