delicacy

del·i·ca·cy  (dl-k-s)

n. pl. del·i·ca·cies

1. The quality of being delicate.

2. Something pleasing and appealing, especially a choice food.

3. Fineness of appearance, construction, or execution; elegance: brushwork of great delicacy.

4. Frailty of bodily constitution or health.

5. Sensitivity of perception, discrimination, or taste; refinement.

6.

a. Sensitivity to the feelings of others; tact: phrased the apology with delicacy.

b. Sensitivity to what is proper; propriety.

c. Undue sensitivity to or concern with what may be considered offensive or improper; squeamishness: scenes that might offend a viewer's delicacy.

7. The need for tact in treatment or handling: a topic of some delicacy.

8. Sensitivity to very small changes; precision: the delicacy of a set of scales.

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[Middle English delicacie, from delicat, delicate; see delicate.]

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delicacy [ˈdɛlɪkəsɪ]

n pl -cies

1. fine or subtle quality, character, construction, etc. delicacy of craftsmanship

2. fragile, soft, or graceful beauty

3. (Cookery) something that is considered choice to eat, such as caviar

4. fragile construction or constitution; frailty

5. refinement of feeling, manner, or appreciation the delicacy of the orchestra's playing

6. fussy or squeamish refinement, esp in matters of taste, propriety, etc.

7. need for tactful or sensitive handling

8. accuracy or sensitivity of response or operation, as of an instrument

9. (Linguistics) (in systemic grammar) the level of detail at which a linguistic description is made; the degree of fine distinction in a linguistic description

10. Obsolete gratification, luxury, or voluptuousness

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	delicacy - the quality of being beautiful and delicate in appearance; "the daintiness of her touch"; "the fineness of her features" daintiness, fineness elegance - a refined quality of gracefulness and good taste; "she conveys an aura of elegance and gentility"
	2.	delicacy - something considered choice to eat   dainty, goody, kickshaw, treat aliment, alimentation, nourishment, nutriment, sustenance, victuals, nutrition - a source of materials to nourish the body choice morsel, tidbit, titbit - a small tasty bit of food savoury, savory - an aromatic or spicy dish served at the end of dinner or as an hors d'oeuvre confection, sweet - a food rich in sugar nectar, ambrosia - (classical mythology) the food and drink of the gods; mortals who ate it became immortal jelly, gelatin - an edible jelly (sweet or pungent) made with gelatin and used as a dessert or salad base or a coating for foods bone marrow, marrow - very tender and very nutritious tissue from marrowbones
	3.	delicacy - refined taste; tact discretion appreciation, discernment, perceptiveness, taste - delicate discrimination (especially of aesthetic values); "arrogance and lack of taste contributed to his rapid success"; "to ask at that particular time was the ultimate in bad taste"
	4.	delicacy - smallness of stature slightness littleness, smallness - the property of having a relatively small size
	5.	delicacy - lack of physical strength fragility weakness - the property of lacking physical or mental strength; liability to failure under pressure or stress or strain; "his weakness increased as he became older"; "the weakness of the span was overlooked until it collapsed"
	6.	delicacy - subtly skillful handling of a situation finesse, diplomacy, discreetness tact, tactfulness - consideration in dealing with others and avoiding giving offense
	7.	delicacy - lightness in movement or manner airiness sprightliness, liveliness, spirit, life - animation and energy in action or expression; "it was a heavy play and the actors tried in vain to give life to it"

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delicacy

noun

1. fragility, frailty, brittleness, flimsiness, frailness, frangibility the delicacy of the crystal glasses

2. daintiness, charm, grace, elegance, neatness, prettiness, slenderness, exquisiteness a country where the feminine ideal is delicacy and grace

3. difficulty, sensitivity, stickiness (informal), precariousness, critical nature, touchiness, ticklishness the delicacy of the political situation

4. sensitivity, understanding, consideration, judgment, perception, diplomacy, discretion, skill, finesse, tact, thoughtfulness, savoir-faire, adroitness, sensitiveness He's shown considerable delicacy and tact.

5. treat, luxury, goody, savoury, dainty, morsel, titbit, choice item, juicy bit, bonne bouche (French) course after course of mouthwatering delicacies

6. lightness, accuracy, precision, elegance, sensibility, purity, subtlety, refinement, finesse, nicety, fineness, exquisiteness He played with a superb delicacy of touch.

Translations

delicacy [ˈdelɪkəsɪ] N

1. (= fineness, subtlety) [of flavour, workmanship, instrument] → delicadeza f

2. (= fragility) [of china, person, balance] → fragilidad f

3. (= sensitivity, awkwardness) [of situation, problem] → lo delicado
a matter of some delicacy → un asunto algo delicado

4. (= tact) [of person, inquiry] → delicadeza f

5. (= special food) → exquisitez f, manjar m exquisito

delicacy [ˈdɛlɪkəsi] n

(= fineness) [object] → délicatesse f

(= difficulty) [situation, matter] → délicatesse f
a matter of some delicacy → une affaire assez délicate

(= choice food) → mets m délicat
local delicacies → des mets régionaux délicats

delicacy

n

= delicateness

(= food) → Delikatesse f, → Leckerbissen m

delicacy [ˈdɛlɪkəsɪ] n

a. (of person, thing) → delicatezza; (of workmanship) → finezza

b. (special food) → specialità f inv, ghiottoneria

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delicacy [ˈdɛlɪkəsɪ] n

a. (of person, thing) → delicatezza; (of workmanship) → finezza

b. (special food) → specialità f inv, ghiottoneria