Search Result for "delicate": 
Wordnet 3.0

ADJECTIVE (7)

1. exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury;
- Example: "a delicate violin passage"
- Example: "delicate china"
- Example: "a delicate flavor"
- Example: "the delicate wing of a butterfly"

2. marked by great skill especially in meticulous technique;
- Example: "a surgeon's delicate touch"

3. easily broken or damaged or destroyed;
- Example: "a kite too delicate to fly safely"
- Example: "fragile porcelain plates"
- Example: "fragile old bones"
- Example: "a frail craft"
[syn: delicate, fragile, frail]

4. easily hurt;
- Example: "soft hands"
- Example: "a baby's delicate skin"
[syn: delicate, soft]

5. developed with extreme delicacy and subtlety;
- Example: "the satire touches with finespun ridicule every kind of human pretense"
[syn: finespun, delicate]

6. difficult to handle; requiring great tact;
- Example: "delicate negotiations with the big powers";"hesitates to be explicit on so ticklish a matter"
- Example: "a touchy subject"
[syn: delicate, ticklish, touchy]

7. of an instrument or device; capable of registering minute differences or changes precisely;
- Example: "almost undetectable with even the most delicate instruments"



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Delicate \Del"i*cate\, n.
   1. A choice dainty; a delicacy. [R.]
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            With abstinence all delicates he sees. --Dryden.
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   2. A delicate, luxurious, or effeminate person.
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            All the vessels, then, which our delicates have, --
            those I mean that would seem to be more fine in
            their houses than their neighbors, -- are only of
            the Corinth metal.                    --Holland.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Delicate \Del"i*cate\, a. [L. delicatus pleasing the senses,
   voluptuous, soft and tender; akin to deliciae delight: cf. F.
   d['e]licat. See Delight.]
   1. Addicted to pleasure; luxurious; voluptuous; alluring.
      [R.]
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            Dives, for his delicate life, to the devil went.
                                                  --Piers
                                                  Plowman.
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            Haarlem is a very delicate town.      --Evelyn.
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   2. Pleasing to the senses; refinedly agreeable; hence,
      adapted to please a nice or cultivated taste; nice; fine;
      elegant; as, a delicate dish; delicate flavor.
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   3. Slight and shapely; lovely; graceful; as, "a delicate
      creature." --Shak.
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   4. Fine or slender; minute; not coarse; -- said of a thread,
      or the like; as, delicate cotton.
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   5. Slight or smooth; light and yielding; -- said of texture;
      as, delicate lace or silk.
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   6. Soft and fair; -- said of the skin or a surface; as, a
      delicate cheek; a delicate complexion.
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   7. Light, or softly tinted; -- said of a color; as, a
      delicate blue.
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   8. Refined; gentle; scrupulous not to trespass or offend;
      considerate; -- said of manners, conduct, or feelings; as,
      delicate behavior; delicate attentions; delicate
      thoughtfulness.
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   9. Tender; not able to endure hardship; feeble; frail;
      effeminate; -- said of constitution, health, etc.; as, a
      delicate child; delicate health.
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            A delicate and tender prince.         --Shak.
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   10. Requiring careful handling; not to be rudely or hastily
       dealt with; nice; critical; as, a delicate subject or
       question.
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             There are some things too delicate and too sacred
             to be handled rudely without injury to truth. --F.
                                                  W. Robertson.
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   11. Of exacting tastes and habits; dainty; fastidious.
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   12. Nicely discriminating or perceptive; refinedly critical;
       sensitive; exquisite; as, a delicate taste; a delicate
       ear for music.
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   13. Affected by slight causes; showing slight changes; as, a
       delicate thermometer.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

delicate
    adj 1: exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to
           injury; "a delicate violin passage"; "delicate china"; "a
           delicate flavor"; "the delicate wing of a butterfly"
           [ant: rugged]
    2: marked by great skill especially in meticulous technique; "a
       surgeon's delicate touch"
    3: easily broken or damaged or destroyed; "a kite too delicate
       to fly safely"; "fragile porcelain plates"; "fragile old
       bones"; "a frail craft" [syn: delicate, fragile, frail]
    4: easily hurt; "soft hands"; "a baby's delicate skin" [syn:
       delicate, soft]
    5: developed with extreme delicacy and subtlety; "the satire
       touches with finespun ridicule every kind of human pretense"
       [syn: finespun, delicate]
    6: difficult to handle; requiring great tact; "delicate
       negotiations with the big powers";"hesitates to be explicit
       on so ticklish a matter"; "a touchy subject" [syn:
       delicate, ticklish, touchy]
    7: of an instrument or device; capable of registering minute
       differences or changes precisely; "almost undetectable with
       even the most delicate instruments"