(a)delicateexquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury“a delicate violin passage”, “delicate china”, “a delicate flavor”, “the delicate wing of a butterfly”
(s)delicate, fragile, fraileasily broken or damaged or destroyed“a kite too delicate to fly safely”, “fragile porcelain plates”, “fragile old bones”, “a frail craft”
(s)delicate, ticklish, touchydifficult to handle; requiring great tact“delicate negotiations with the big powers”, “hesitates to be explicit on so ticklish a matter”, “a touchy subject”
(s)delicateof an instrument or device; capable of registering minute differences or changes precisely“almost undetectable with even the most delicate instruments”