a. [ L. delicatus pleasing the senses, voluptuous, soft and tender; akin to deliciae delight: cf. F. délicat. See Delight. ] 1. Addicted to pleasure; luxurious; voluptuous; alluring. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Dives, for his delicate life, to the devil went. Piers Plowman. [ 1913 Webster ]

Haarlem is a very delicate town. Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Pleasing to the senses; refinedly agreeable; hence, adapted to please a nice or cultivated taste; nice; fine; elegant; as, a delicate dish; delicate flavor. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Slight and shapely; lovely; graceful; as, “a delicate creature.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Fine or slender; minute; not coarse; -- said of a thread, or the like; as, delicate cotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Slight or smooth; light and yielding; -- said of texture; as, delicate lace or silk. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Soft and fair; -- said of the skin or a surface; as, a delicate cheek; a delicate complexion. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Light, or softly tinted; -- said of a color; as, a delicate blue. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. Refined; gentle; scrupulous not to trespass or offend; considerate; -- said of manners, conduct, or feelings; as, delicate behavior; delicate attentions; delicate thoughtfulness. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. Tender; not able to endure hardship; feeble; frail; effeminate; -- said of constitution, health, etc.; as, a delicate child; delicate health. [ 1913 Webster ]

A delicate and tender prince. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. Requiring careful handling; not to be rudely or hastily dealt with; nice; critical; as, a delicate subject or question. [ 1913 Webster ]

There are some things too delicate and too sacred to be handled rudely without injury to truth. F. W. Robertson. [ 1913 Webster ]

11. Of exacting tastes and habits; dainty; fastidious. [ 1913 Webster ]

12. Nicely discriminating or perceptive; refinedly critical; sensitive; exquisite; as, a delicate taste; a delicate ear for music. [ 1913 Webster ]

13. Affected by slight causes; showing slight changes; as, a delicate thermometer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A choice dainty; a delicacy. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

With abstinence all delicates he sees. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A delicate, luxurious, or effeminate person. [ 1913 Webster ]

All the vessels, then, which our delicates have, -- those I mean that would seem to be more fine in their houses than their neighbors, -- are only of the Corinth metal. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a delicate manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being delicate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. [ G., fr. F. délicatesse. ] 1. Relishes for the table; dainties; delicacies. “A dealer in delicatessen”. G. H. Putnam. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. ready-to-eat foods, such as cold cuts, cooked meats, and prepared salads. [ PJC ]

3. sing.; pl. delicatessens. a store or section of a store where delicatessen{ 2 } is sold. “Get a sandwich for lunch at the delicatessen counter.” [ PJC ]