delicate
deli|cate /d'elɪkət/
1 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
Something that is delicate is small and beautifully shaped.
He had delicate hands.
= dainty
● delicately [ADV] ADV adj/-ed
She was a shy, delicately pretty girl with enormous blue eyes.
= daintily
2 [ADJ]
Something that is delicate has a colour, taste, or smell which is pleasant and not strong or intense.
Young haricot beans have a tender texture and a delicate, subtle flavour...
= subtle
● delicately [ADV] ADV -ed/adj
...a soup delicately flavoured with nutmeg.
3 [ADJ]
If something is delicate, it is easy to harm, damage, or break, and needs to be handled or treated carefully.
Although the coral looks hard, it is very delicate.
= fragile
≠ robust
4 [ADJ] usu v-link ADJ
Someone who is delicate is not healthy and strong, and becomes ill easily.
She was physically delicate and psychologically unstable.
= frail
5 [ADJ]
You use delicate to describe a situation, problem, matter, or discussion that needs to be dealt with carefully and sensitively in order to avoid upsetting things or offending people.
The European members are afraid of upsetting the delicate balance of political interests...
● delicately [ADV] ADV with v
...a delicately-worded memo.
6 [ADJ]
A delicate task, movement, action, or product needs or shows great skill and attention to detail.
...a long and delicate operation carried out at a hospital in Florence...
● delicately [ADV] ADV with v
...the delicately embroidered sheets.
1 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
Something that is delicate is small and beautifully shaped.
He had delicate hands.
= dainty
● delicately [ADV] ADV adj/-ed
She was a shy, delicately pretty girl with enormous blue eyes.
= daintily
2 [ADJ]
Something that is delicate has a colour, taste, or smell which is pleasant and not strong or intense.
Young haricot beans have a tender texture and a delicate, subtle flavour...
= subtle
● delicately [ADV] ADV -ed/adj
...a soup delicately flavoured with nutmeg.
3 [ADJ]
If something is delicate, it is easy to harm, damage, or break, and needs to be handled or treated carefully.
Although the coral looks hard, it is very delicate.
= fragile
≠ robust
4 [ADJ] usu v-link ADJ
Someone who is delicate is not healthy and strong, and becomes ill easily.
She was physically delicate and psychologically unstable.
= frail
5 [ADJ]
You use delicate to describe a situation, problem, matter, or discussion that needs to be dealt with carefully and sensitively in order to avoid upsetting things or offending people.
The European members are afraid of upsetting the delicate balance of political interests...
● delicately [ADV] ADV with v
...a delicately-worded memo.
6 [ADJ]
A delicate task, movement, action, or product needs or shows great skill and attention to detail.
...a long and delicate operation carried out at a hospital in Florence...
● delicately [ADV] ADV with v
...the delicately embroidered sheets.