# delicate

/ˈdɛɫəkət/ (US) · /dˈɛlɪkət/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/delicate
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. easily broken

adjective · CEFR B1

easily damaged or broken; needing very careful handling.

For teachers: physically fragile or easily damaged; requiring cautious manipulation to avoid breakage.

- Be careful with those delicate wine glasses when you wash them.
- The restoration of the delicate silk tapestry required months of painstaking work by a team of textile specialists.

### 2. fine or detailed

adjective · CEFR B2

having a very thin, light, or detailed structure.

For teachers: characterized by a fine, intricate, or subtle structure; often used of patterns, features, or craftsmanship.

- The spider web was covered in delicate drops of morning dew.
- The watchmaker used specialized tools to adjust the delicate internal gears of the antique chronometer.

### 3. requiring tact

adjective · CEFR B2

needing careful treatment because it could easily cause trouble or offense.

For teachers: requiring great tact, diplomacy, or sensitivity to manage successfully without causing conflict.

- The manager had to handle a delicate situation between two angry employees.
- The diplomat navigated the delicate negotiations with skill, ensuring that neither party felt their sovereignty was being challenged.

### 4. subtle or light

adjective · CEFR B2

pleasant and not strong, such as a light smell, taste, or color.

For teachers: subtle or understated in sensory quality; not intense or overpowering.

- The soup had a delicate flavor of fresh herbs and lemon.
- The artist chose a delicate shade of pink for the sky to suggest the very first moments of dawn.

### 5. weak health

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

having a body that is not strong and gets sick easily.

For teachers: possessing a fragile constitution; prone to illness or physical exhaustion.

- The child had always been in delicate health since he was born.
- Despite her delicate constitution, she insisted on traveling across the continent to attend the scientific symposium.

### 6. hungover

adjective · CEFR C2 · British English · Informal · Humorous

feeling slightly sick or sensitive, especially after drinking too much alcohol.

For teachers: feeling physically sensitive or unwell, typically as a result of a hangover.

- I'm feeling a bit delicate this morning after the office party.
- He was feeling rather delicate after the wedding celebrations and spent the entire Sunday morning in a darkened room.

Teaching tip: This is a common British euphemism for a hangover; it implies the person needs quiet and gentle treatment.

### 7. fragile clothing

noun · CEFR B2

clothes that are made of thin or expensive material and need a gentle wash.

For teachers: items of clothing, such as lingerie or silk garments, that require a gentle laundry cycle.

- You should wash your delicates in a separate mesh bag.
- The modern washing machine features a specific cycle designed to protect delicates from being stretched or torn during the spin.

Usage: Usually used in the plural form.

## Examples

- The glass vase is very delicate.
- The diplomat handled the delicate negotiations with great care to avoid starting a conflict.
- Restoring the centuries-old tapestry required a delicate touch, as the silk fibers had become brittle and prone to disintegrating under even slight pressure.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.