Origin: Latin suffix -ate
Delicate has 9 different meanings across 1 category:
A delicate item of clothing, especially underwear or lingerie.
"She carefully folded her delicate silk nightgown and placed it in a separate drawer."
In plain English: A delicate person is someone who gets hurt easily by criticism or strong feelings.
"The delicate was a quiet moment when everyone gathered to remember their loved ones."
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
"a delicate violin passage"
"delicate china"
"a delicate flavor"
"the delicate wing of a butterfly"
of an instrument or device; capable of registering minute differences or changes precisely
"almost undetectable with even the most delicate instruments"
Easily damaged or requiring careful handling.
"The antique vase was so delicate that it required careful handling to avoid breaking."
In plain English: Delicate means something is very fragile and can break easily if you are not careful with it.
"The glass vase was so delicate that I handled it with extreme care."
Usage: Use this adjective to describe objects that are easily broken or situations needing gentle care, rather than simply meaning small in size. It often pairs with words like fabric or skin to emphasize fragility without implying weakness of character.
The word delicate comes from the Latin dēlicātus, which originally meant "giving pleasure" or being soft and luxurious before entering Middle English as delicat. Its roots trace back to a verb meaning "to allure," suggesting that something described this way was so pleasant it felt like an enticing lure.