delicateness

del·i·cate  (dl-kt)

adj.

1. Pleasing to the senses, especially in a subtle way: a delicate flavor; a delicate violin passage.

2. Exquisitely fine or dainty: delicate china.

3. Frail in constitution or health.

4. Easily broken or damaged: a kite too delicate to fly.

5. Marked by sensitivity of discrimination: a critic's delicate perception.

6.

a. Considerate of the feelings of others.

b. Concerned with propriety.

c. Squeamish or fastidious.

7. Requiring tactful treatment: a delicate situation.

8. Fine or soft in touch or skill: a surgeon's delicate touch.

9. Measuring, indicating, or responding to very small changes; precise: a delicate set of scales.

10. Very subtle in difference or distinction.

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[Middle English delicat and French délicat, both from Latin dlictus, pleasing; akin to dlicia, pleasure; see delicious.]

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deli·cate·ly adv.

deli·cate·ness n.

Synonyms: delicate, choice, dainty, elegant, exquisite, fine¹
These adjectives mean appealing to refined taste: a delicate flavor; choice exotic flowers; a dainty dish; elegant handwriting; an exquisite wine; the finest embroidery. See Also Synonyms at fragile.

Translations

delicateness

n

(= daintiness) → Zartheit f; (= fragility) → Zerbrechlichkeit f; (of fabric, flower, liver) → Empfindlichkeit f; (of health, person) → Zartheit f

(= sensitivity, of person) → Feinfühligkeit f; (of instrument) → Empfindlichkeit f; (of task) → Feinheit f; the delicateness of his playing → sein gefühlvolles Spiel

(of operation, subject, situation) → heikle Natur

(= subtlety: of flavour) → Feinheit f