Tra từ delicate - Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

deli·cate BrE [ˈdelɪkət] NAmE [ˈdelɪkət] adjective
1. easily damaged or broken
Syn: ↑fragile
•delicate china teacups
• The eye is one of the most delicate organs of the body.
•the delicate ecological balance of the rainforest
• Babies have very delicate skin.
•a cool wash cycle for delicate fabrics
2. (of a person)not strong and easily becoming ill/sick
•a delicate child/constitution
• His health had always been delicate.
3. small and having a beautiful shape or appearance
•his delicate hands
4. made or formed in a very careful and detailed way
•the delicate mechanisms of a clock
5. showing or needing skilful, careful or sensitive treatment
• I admired your delicate handling of the situation.
•a delicate problem
• The delicate surgical operation took five hours.
6. (of colours, flavours and smells)light and pleasant; not strong
Syn: ↑subtle
•a delicate fragrance/flavour
•a river scene painted in delicate watercolours
Derived Word: ↑delicately

Word Origin:
late Middle English (in the sense ‘delightful, charming’): from French délicat or Latin delicatus, of unknown origin. Senses also expressed in Middle English (now obsolete) include ‘voluptuous’, ‘self-indulgent’, ‘fastidious’, and ‘effeminate’.

Thesaurus:
delicate [delicate delicately] adj.
•a delicate china cup
•the delicate ecological balance of the rainforest
fragile • • brittle •
delicate/fragile/brittle bones/glass
(a) delicate/fragile china/thread
the delicate/fragile ecology
Delicate or fragile? Delicate fabrics, like silk, need special care
•Use a cool wash for delicate fabrics.
Fragile fabrics need even more care, usually because they are very old.

Example Bank:
•Her bones felt as delicate as a bird's.
•The glasses looked very delicate.
•This is a somewhat delicate subject.
•a politically delicate situation
•a rather delicate child
•He warned that the talks were at a very delicate stage.
•I wasn't sure how to approach the delicate matter of pay.
•She has a delicate constitution and has to be careful with what she eats.
•The eye is one of the most delicate organs of the body
•This has done nothing except to inflame an already delicate situation.
•a cool wash for delicate fabrics