delicate

DELICATE, adjective [Latin Connected with delight; to delight.] 1. Of a fine texture; fine; soft; smooth; clear, or fair; as a delicate skin. 2. Nice; pleasing to the taste; of an agreeable flavor; as delicate food; a delicate dish. 3. Nice in perception of what is agreeable; dainty; as a delicate taste; and figuratively, nice and discriminating in beauty and deformity. 4. Nice; accurate; fine; soft to the eye; as a delicate color. 5. Nice in forms; regulated by minute observance of propriety, or by condescension and attention to the wishes and feelings of others; as delicate behavior or manners; a delicate address. 6. Pleasing to the senses; as a delicate flavor. 7. Fine; slender; minute; as a delicate thread. 8. That cannot be handled without injury or danger; that must be touched with care; as a delicate point or topic; a delicate question. 9. Composed of fine threads, or nicely interwoven; as a delicate texture; hence, soft and smooth to the touch; as delicate silk. 10. Tender; effeminate; not able to endure hardship; very impressible to injury; as a delicate frame or constitution. 11. Feeble; not sound or robust; as delicate health. DELICATE, noun Any thing nice; a nicety.