ˈdɛlɪkət ˈfɹædʒəl fɹeɪl sɒft sɔft sɑft ˈtɪk(ə)lɪʃ ˈtʌtʃi

exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury a delicate violin passage delicate china a delicate flavor the delicate wing of a butterfly easily broken or damaged or destroyed a kite too delicate to fly safely fragile porcelain plates fragile old bones a frail craft difficult to handle; requiring great tact delicate negotiations with the big powers hesitates to be explicit on so ticklish a matter a touchy subject developed with extreme delicacy and subtlety the satire touches with finespun ridicule every kind of human pretense of an instrument or device; capable of registering minute differences or changes precisely almost undetectable with even the most delicate instruments marked by great skill especially in meticulous technique a surgeon's delicate touch easily hurt soft hands a baby's delicate skin