delicate

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See also: délicate

English

Etymology

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle English delicat, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Latin delicatus (“giving pleasure, delightful, soft, luxurious, delicate, in (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Lua error in Module:parameters at line 95: Parameter 1 should be a valid language code; the value "ML." is not valid. See WT:LOL. also fine, slender”), from delicia, usually in plural deliciae (“pleasure, delight, luxury”), from delicere (“to allure”), from de (“away”) + lacere (“to allure, entice”). Compare Spanish delgado (“thin, skinny”).

Pronunciation

  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 95: Parameter 1 should be a valid language code; the value "UK" is not valid. See WT:LOL. IPA(key): /ˈdɛlɪkət/
  • Audio (US)(file)

Adjective

delicate (comparative more delicate, superlative most delicate)

  1. Easily damaged or requiring careful handling.
    Those clothes are made from delicate lace.
    The negotiations were very delicate.
    • 1850 April 18, Frederik W. Robertson, An Address Delivered to the Members of the Working Man's Institute‎[1], page 5:
      There are some things too delicate and too sacred to be handled rudely without injury to truth.
    • 2012 April 23, Angelique Chrisafis, “François Hollande on top but far right scores record result in French election”, in the Guardian‎[2]:
      The final vote between Hollande and Sarkozy now depends on a delicate balance of how France's total of rightwing and leftwing voters line up.
  2. Characterized by a fine structure or thin lines.
    Her face was delicate.
    The spider wove a delicate web.
    There was a delicate pattern of frost on the window.
  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; delicate thoughtfulness
  5. Of weak health; easily sick; unable to endure hardship.
    a delicate child; delicate health
    • (Can we date this quote by Shakespeare and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      a delicate and tender prince
  6. (informal) Unwell, especially because of having drunk too much alcohol.
    Please don't speak so loudly: I'm feeling a bit delicate this morning.
  7. (obsolete) Addicted to pleasure; luxurious; voluptuous; alluring.
  8. Pleasing to the senses; refined; adapted to please an elegant or cultivated taste.
    a delicate dish; delicate flavour
  9. Slight and shapely; lovely; graceful.
  10. Light, or softly tinted; said of a colour.
    a delicate shade of blue
  11. Of exacting tastes and habits; dainty; fastidious.
  12. Highly discriminating or perceptive; refinedly critical; sensitive; exquisite.
    a delicate taste; a delicate ear for music
  13. Affected by slight causes; showing slight changes.
    a delicate thermometer

Synonyms

Related terms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Noun

delicate (plural delicates)

  1. A delicate item of clothing, especially underwear or lingerie.
    Don't put that in with your jeans: it's a delicate!
  2. (obsolete) A choice dainty; a delicacy.
    • 1712, William King, The Art of Cookery, in Imitation of Horace's Art of Poetry:
      With Abstinence all Delicates he Sees, / And can regale himself with Toast and Cheese.
  3. (obsolete) A delicate, luxurious, or effeminate person.
    • 1830, “The Barge's Crew”, in The Log Book; Or, Nautical Miscellany‎[3], page 341:
      A council of war was called, and the delicates met in the great cabin ; the platform was rigged up on the forecastle, the yard-rope rove, and the signal made for all boats to attend execution
    • (Can we date this quote?), Holland, (Please provide the book title or journal name):
      All the vessels, then, which our delicates have, — those I mean that would seem to be more fine in their houses than their neighbours, — are only of the Corinth metal.

Further reading

Italian

Adjective

Template:it-adj-form

  1. (deprecated template usage) Feminine plural of adjective delicato.

Anagrams

Latin

Adjective

(deprecated template usage) dēlicāte

  1. vocative masculine singular of dēlicātus

References

  • “delicate”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  • “delicate”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
  • delicate in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.

Romanian

Pronunciation

Adjective

delicate

  1. feminine plural nominative of delicat
  2. feminine plural accusative of delicat
  3. neuter plural nominative of delicat
  4. neuter plural accusative of delicat
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