[
US
/ˈdɛɫəkət/
]
[ UK /dˈɛlɪkət/ ]
[ UK /dˈɛlɪkət/ ]
ADJECTIVE
-
of an instrument or device; capable of registering minute differences or changes precisely
almost undetectable with even the most delicate instruments -
difficult to handle; requiring great tact
hesitates to be explicit on so ticklish a matter
delicate negotiations with the big powers
a touchy subject -
marked by great skill especially in meticulous technique
a surgeon's delicate touch -
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
delicate china
a delicate flavor
the delicate wing of a butterfly
a delicate violin passage -
easily hurt
soft hands
a baby's delicate skin -
easily broken or damaged or destroyed
fragile porcelain plates
a kite too delicate to fly safely
fragile old bones
a frail craft -
developed with extreme delicacy and subtlety
the satire touches with finespun ridicule every kind of human pretense
How To Use delicate In A Sentence
- The final section of the traverse was a bit of a challenge: delicate, balancey moves with next to nothing for hands or feet.
- Tranmere played with a good deal more enthusiasm as the evening wore on, suggesting that Aldridge had expressed - presumably in an indelicate fashion - his sense of displeasure during the recess.
- In their summary, they state that this ape's vocal organ is not capable of producing delicately modulated or controlled sounds.
- A dried-out horseshoe crab is a delicate thing and there's no way it would survive the flight in my checked baggage. Horseshoe Crabs and the TSA
- The glistening mushrooms were plump and earthy against the dry, crunchy pastry softened by the delicate, herby cream sauce.
- A touch is all that is needed to lube delicate trigger mechanisms, firing pins, ejectors, extractors and springs.
- Khad's slight build and almost feminine looks gave him a delicate look.
- On fair skin, pale shades are delicate enough not to overpower your colouring.
- I tried both the delicate, unsalty gravadlax and a tartare served with the roe and a very lemony asparagus salad.
- Ochre and red rippled across the male's mantle, in the delicate, complex traceries of which only males were capable.