01 a. Addicted to pleasure; luxurious; voluptuous; alluring.
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1.
Addicted to pleasure; luxurious; voluptuous; alluring.[R.]“Dives, for his delicate life, to the devil went.” — Piers Plowman.“Haarlem is a very delicate town.” — Evelyn.
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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.
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3.
Slight and shapely; lovely; graceful; as, “a delicate creature.”
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4.
Fine or slender; minute; not coarse; -- said of a thread, or the like; as, delicate cotton.
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5.
Slight or smooth; light and yielding; -- said of texture; as, delicate lace or silk.
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6.
Soft and fair; -- said of the skin or a surface; as, a delicate cheek; a delicate complexion.
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7.
Light, or softly tinted; -- said of a color; as, a delicate blue.
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8.
Refined; gentle; scrupulous not to trespass or offend; considerate; -- said of manners, conduct, or feelings; as, delicate behavior; delicate attentions; delicate thoughtfulness.
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9.
Tender; not able to endure hardship; feeble; frail; effeminate; -- said of constitution, health, etc.; as, a delicate child; delicate health.“A delicate and tender prince.” — Shak.
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10.
Requiring careful handling; not to be rudely or hastily dealt with; nice; critical; as, a delicate subject or question.“There are some things too delicate and too sacred to be handled rudely without injury to truth.” — F. W. Robertson.
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11.
Of exacting tastes and habits; dainty; fastidious.
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12.
Nicely discriminating or perceptive; refinedly critical; sensitive; exquisite; as, a delicate taste; a delicate ear for music.
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13.
Affected by slight causes; showing slight changes; as, a delicate thermometer.