delicate meaning and definition

DELICATE adjective

Definition of delicate (adjective)

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"
   • antonym: 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"
   • synonyms: fragile, frail
4. easily hurt
   • "soft hands"; "a baby's delicate skin"
   • synonyms: soft
5. developed with extreme delicacy and subtlety
   • "the satire touches with finespun ridicule every kind of human pretense"
   • synonyms: finespun
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"
   • synonyms: ticklish, touchy
7. of an instrument or device; capable of registering minute differences or changes precisely
   • "almost undetectable with even the most delicate instruments"