FluentPlex

delicate

/ˈdɛl.ɪ.kɪt/ adjective B1
  1. Easily damaged or requiring careful handling. · Those clothes are made from delicate lace.· The negotiations were very delicate.
  2. Characterized by a fine structure or thin lines. · Her face was delicate.· The spider wove a delicate web.
  3. Intended for use with fragile items. · Set the washing machine to the delicate cycle.
  4. Refined; gentle; scrupulous not to trespass or offend; considerate; said of manners, conduct, or feelings. · delicate behaviour· delicate attentions
  5. Of weak health; easily sick; unable to endure hardship. · a delicate child· delicate health
  6. Unwell, especially because of having drunk too much alcohol. (informal) · Please don't speak so loudly: I'm feeling a bit delicate this morning.
  7. Pleasing to the senses; refined; adapted to please an elegant or cultivated taste. · a delicate dish· delicate flavour
  8. Slight and shapely; lovely; graceful.

Comparative delicater · Superlative delicatest

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From the library

Such inquiries serve no useful purpose, sir, and place us in a delicate and difficult position.'
The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes, p. 7 · B2
More--one evening she went up to the east gable with her arms full of a delicate pale green material.
Anne of Green Gables, p. 287 · C1
Anne had a brighter face, and bigger, starrier eyes, and more delicate features than the other; even shy, unobservant Matthew had learned to take note of these things; but the difference that disturbed him did not consist in any of these respects.
Anne of Green Gables, p. 187 · C1
IT was October again when Anne was ready to go back to school--a glorious October, all red and gold, with mellow mornings when the valleys were filled with delicate mists as if the spirit of autumn had poured them in for the sun to drain--amethyst, pearl, silver, rose, and smoke-blue.
Anne of Green Gables, p. 181 · C1

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Words, meanings, pronunciations and translations from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0); how common each word is from wordfreq. Made into this dictionary by FluentPlex.