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| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Language: | Latin |
| Origin: | delicatus |
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del‧i‧cate
1 needing to be dealt with carefully or sensitively in order to avoid problems or failure : 
delicate negotiations
delicate negotiations2 easily damaged or broken [= fragile]: delicate hand-cut glass
delicate hand-cut glass3 old-fashioned someone who is delicate is hurt easily or easily becomes ill : a delicate child
a delicate child4 a part of the body that is delicate is attractive and graceful : Her wrists and ankles were slim and delicate.
Her wrists and ankles were slim and delicate.5 made skilfully and with attention to the smallest details : a plate with a delicate pattern of leaves
a plate with a delicate pattern of leaves6 a taste, smell, or colour that is delicate is pleasant and not strong : The wine has a dry delicate flavour. a delicate pink
The wine has a dry delicate flavour.a delicate pink —delicately adverb
➔ indelicateWORD FOCUS: difficult 
WORD FOCUS: difficult 
difficult to do: hard, tough, challenging, daunting
difficult and needing a lot of physical effort: tough, strenuous, back-breaking, gruelling, arduous, punishing
difficult to deal with or talk about: tricky, awkward, delicate, sensitive, touchy
words for describing a difficult person: awkward, trying
words for describing difficult conditions: adverse, hostile
➔ See also difficultWORD FOCUS: weak
WORD FOCUS: weak person: puny, feeble, weedy British English, frail, fragile, powerless, vulnerable
thing: fragile, delicate, flimsy, rickety, badly made, jerry-built
➔ See also weak
