# exquisite

/ˈɛkskwəzət/ (US) · /ɛkskwˈɪsɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/exquisite
Updated: 2026-09-06

## Senses

### 1. beautiful and delicate

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Literary

extremely beautiful and made with great care or skill.

For teachers: characterised by intricate design, delicate craftsmanship, or rare aesthetic excellence.

- The museum displayed an exquisite gold necklace from ancient Egypt.
- The artisan spent months on the exquisite embroidery, ensuring that every silk thread contributed to the overall harmony of the pattern.

Usage: Often used to describe art, jewellery, or natural scenery.

Teaching tip: While 'beautiful' is common, 'exquisite' implies a level of detail and perfection that is rare.

### 2. intense or sharp

adjective · CEFR C2 · Literary

used to describe a very strong feeling, such as great pleasure or sharp pain.

For teachers: of extreme intensity or sharpness; used to describe sensory or emotional experiences that are keenly felt.

- The music was so beautiful it caused her exquisite pleasure.
- He suffered exquisite pain from the wound, yet he refused to let his captors see even a flicker of discomfort on his face.

Usage: Commonly collocates with 'pain', 'pleasure', or 'agony'.

Teaching tip: This sense is almost exclusively found in literature and high-level creative writing.

### 3. a dandy

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

a man who is very interested in fashion and his own appearance.

For teachers: a man who is overly concerned with his clothes and appearance; a fop or dandy.

- The young exquisite spent hours choosing the right silk tie for the ball.
- The drawing room was filled with young exquisites, each attempting to outdo the other with the height of their collars and the shine of their boots.

Usage: Used as a countable noun.

Teaching tip: This noun form is rarely used in modern English and is mostly found in 18th or 19th-century literature.

## Examples

- The bride wore an exquisite dress made of handmade lace.
- The museum's collection includes several exquisite pieces of jewelry from the Victorian era.
- The chef's reputation rests on his exquisite attention to detail, ensuring that every garnish on the plate serves both a visual and a culinary purpose.

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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.