delicacy

delicacy
/del"i keuh see/, n., pl. delicacies.
1. fineness of texture, quality, etc.; softness; daintiness: the delicacy of lace.
2. something delightful or pleasing, esp. a choice food considered with regard to its rarity, costliness, or the like: Caviar is a great delicacy.
3. the quality of being easily broken or damaged; fragility.
4. the quality of requiring or involving great care or tact: negotiations of great delicacy.
5. extreme sensitivity; precision of action or operation; minute accuracy: the delicacy of a skillful surgeon's touch; a watch mechanism of unusual delicacy.
6. fineness of perception or feeling; sensitiveness: the delicacy of the pianist's playing.
7. fineness of feeling with regard to what is fitting, proper, etc.: Delicacy would not permit her to be rude.
8. sensitivity with regard to the feelings of others: She criticized him with such delicacy that he was not offended.
9. bodily weakness; liability to sickness; frailty.
10. Ling. (esp. in systemic linguistics) the degree of minuteness pursued at a given stage of analysis in specifying distinctions in linguistic description.
11. Obs. sensuous indulgence; luxury.
[1325-75; ME delicasie. See DELICATE, -CY]
Syn. 5. sensitivity, discrimination; prudence, consideration, circumspection.
Ant. 1, 6. coarseness.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Delicacy — Del i*ca*cy, n.; pl. {Delicacies}. [From {Delicate}, a.] 1. The state or condition of being delicate; agreeableness to the senses; delightfulness; as, delicacy of flavor, of odor, and the like. [1913 Webster] What choice to choose for delicacy… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • delicacy — [del′i kə sē] n. pl. delicacies [ME delicacie < ML delicacia < L delicatus: see DELICATE] 1. the quality of being delicate as in taste, odor, or texture 2. fragile beauty or graceful slightness, softness, etc.; fineness [the delicacy of a… …   English World dictionary

  • delicacy — [n1] daintiness, fineness of structure airiness, debility, diaphaneity, elegance, etherealness, exquisiteness, fragility, frailness, frailty, gossameriness, infirmity, lightness, slenderness, smoothness, softness, subtlety, tenderness, tenuity,… …   New thesaurus

  • delicacy — index consideration (sympathetic regard), decorum, discretion (quality of being discreet), fault (weakness), frailty, nuance, propriety ( …   Law dictionary

  • delicacy — late 14c., delightfulness; fastidiousness; quality of being addicted to sensuous pleasure, from DELICATE (Cf. delicate) + CY (Cf. cy). Meaning fineness, softness, tender loveliness is from 1580s; that of weakness of constitution is from 1630s.… …   Etymology dictionary

  • delicacy — ► NOUN (pl. delicacies) 1) delicate texture or structure. 2) susceptibility to illness or adverse conditions. 3) discretion and tact. 4) a choice or expensive food …   English terms dictionary

  • delicacy — [[t]de̱lɪkəsi[/t]] delicacies 1) N UNCOUNT Delicacy is the quality of being easy to break or harm, and refers especially to people or things that are attractive or graceful. ...the delicacy of a rose. ...a country where the feminine ideal is… …   English dictionary

  • delicacy — noun 1 rare and expensive type of food ADJECTIVE ▪ great ▪ exotic, rare ▪ expensive ▪ local ▪ Have you tried any of the local deli …   Collocations dictionary

  • delicacy — noun 1) the fabric s delicacy Syn: fineness, exquisiteness, daintiness, airiness; flimsiness, gauziness, silkiness 2) the children s delicacy Syn: sickliness, ill health, frailty, fragility …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • delicacy — noun (plural cies) Date: 14th century 1. obsolete a. the quality or state of being luxurious b. indulgence 2. something pleasing to eat that is considered rare or luxurious …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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