DELICATE

adj. 1 fragile, breakable, frail, tender, frangible, dainty; perishable, flimsy This filament is extremely delicate, so be careful 2 fine, exquisite, dainty, graceful, elegant, subtle A delicate border of lace sets off the collar 3 feeble, weak, sickly, frail, debilitated, weakened, enfeebled, unhealthy Her condition is too delicate for her to be moved 4 critical, ticklish, sensitive, dangerous, tricky, precarious, touchy, Slang hairy; Colloq sticky Rescuing the survivors of the avalanche was a delicate operation 5 dainty, squeamish, queasy, fastidious, prudish, Victorian, finicky, finical, refined, discriminating, discerning, sensitive, puristic, proper, coy, modest, demure In those days ladies were thought to be too delicate to mention such matters 6 gradual, subtle, nice, precise, muted, soft, faint, subdued The delicate shading at the horizon is characteristic of this artist