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Dictionary definition for: Delicate

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

2. (s) marked by great skill especially in meticulous technique; "a surgeon''s delicate touch"

3. (s) easily broken or damaged or destroyed; "a kite too delicate to fly safely" "fragile porcelain plates" "fragile old bones" "a frail craft"

4. (s) easily hurt; "soft hands" "a baby''s delicate skin"

5. (s) developed with extreme delicacy and subtlety; "the satire touches with finespun ridicule every kind of human pretense"

6. (s) difficult to handle; requiring great tact; "delicate negotiations with the big powers" "hesitates to be explicit on so ticklish a matter"

7. (s) of an instrument or device; capable of registering minute differences or changes precisely; "almost undetectable with even the most delicate instruments"

WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved.