- easily damaged or broken synonym fragile
- delicate china teacups
- The eye is one of the most delicate organs of the body.
- the delicate ecological balance of the rainforest
- Babies have very delicate skin.
- a cool wash cycle for delicate fabrics
Extra Examples- Her bones felt as delicate as a bird's.
- The glasses looked very delicate.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
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Definitions on the go
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- (of a person) not strong and easily becoming ill
- a delicate child/constitution
- His health had always been delicate.
Extra ExamplesTopics Health problemsc1- She has a delicate constitution and has to be careful with what she eats.
- a rather delicate child
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
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- look
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- small and having a beautiful shape or appearance
- his delicate hands
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
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- made or formed in a very careful and detailed way
- the delicate mechanisms of a clock
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
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- showing or needing careful or sensitive treatment
- I admired your delicate handling of the situation.
- a delicate problem
- The delicate surgical operation took five hours.
Extra Examples- This is a somewhat delicate subject.
- a politically delicate situation
- I wasn't sure how to approach the delicate matter of pay.
- He warned that the talks were at a very delicate stage.
- This has done nothing except to inflame an already delicate situation.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
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- look
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- (of colours, flavours and smells) light and pleasant; not strong synonym subtle
- a delicate fragrance/flavour
- a river scene painted in delicate watercolours
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- feel
- look
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- extremely
- fairly
- very
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Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘delightful, charming’): from French délicat or Latin delicatus, of unknown origin. Senses also expressed in Middle English (now obsolete) include ‘voluptuous’, ‘self-indulgent’, ‘fastidious’, and ‘effeminate’.
Check pronunciation:
delicate