delicateとは意味・読み方・使い方

発音

• IPA^(key): /ˈdɛlɪkət/

形容詞

delicate (comparative more delicate, superlative most delicate)

1. Easily damaged or requiring careful handling.

   Those clothes are made from delicate lace.

   The negotiations were very delicate.

   • 1850 April 18, Frederik W. Robertson, An Address Delivered to the Members of the Working Man's Institute‎^[1], page 5:

     There are some things too delicate and too sacred to be handled rudely without injury to truth.

   • 2012 April 23, Angelique Chrisafis, “François Hollande on top but far right scores record result in French election”, in the Guardian‎^[2]:

     The final vote between Hollande and Sarkozy now depends on a delicate balance of how France's total of rightwing and leftwing voters line up.

2. Characterized by a fine structure or thin lines.

   Her face was delicate.

   The spider wove a delicate web.

   There was a delicate pattern of frost on the window.

3. Intended for use with fragile items.

   Set the washing machine to the delicate cycle.

4. Refined; gentle; scrupulous not to trespass or offend; considerate; said of manners, conduct, or feelings.

   delicate behaviour

   delicate attentions

   delicate thoughtfulness

5. Of weak health; easily sick; unable to endure hardship.

   a delicate child

   delicate health

   • c. 1599–1602, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act IV, scene iv]:

     a delicate and tender prince

6. (informal) Unwell, especially because of having drunk too much alcohol.

   Please don't speak so loudly: I'm feeling a bit delicate this morning.

7. (obsolete) Addicted to pleasure; luxurious; voluptuous; alluring.
   • circa 1660, John Evelyn (author), William Bray (editor), The Diary of John Evelyn, volume I of II (1901), entry for the 19th of August in 1641, page 29:

     Haerlem is a very delicate town and hath one of the fairest churches of the Gothic design I had ever seen.

8. Pleasing to the senses; refined; adapted to please an elegant or cultivated taste.

   a delicate dish

   delicate flavour

   • 1861, Anthony Trollope, Framley Parsonage

     They would give up ideas of gentle living, of soft raiment, and delicate feeding.

9. Slight and shapely; lovely; graceful.
   • c. 1603–1604, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act II, scene iii], line 18 and 20–21:

     Cassio:   She’s a most exquisite lady. […] Indeed, she’s a most fresh and delicate creature.

10. Light, or softly tinted; said of a colour.

    a delicate shade of blue

11. Of exacting tastes and habits; dainty; fastidious.
12. Highly discriminating or perceptive; refinedly critical; sensitive; exquisite.

    a delicate taste

    a delicate ear for music

13. Affected by slight causes; showing slight changes.

    a delicate thermometer

同意語

• (easily damaged): fragile

関連する語

• delicacy
• delicately
• delicatessen
• delicious
• delight

名詞

delicate (複数形 delicates)

1. A delicate item of clothing, especially underwear or lingerie.

   Don't put that in with your jeans: it's a delicate!

2. (obsolete) A choice dainty; a delicacy.
   • 1712, William King, The Art of Cookery, in Imitation of Horace's Art of Poetry:

     With Abstinence all Delicates he Sees, / And can regale himself with Toast and Cheese.

3. (obsolete) A delicate, luxurious, or effeminate person.
   • 1830, “The Barge's Crew”, in The Log Book; Or, Nautical Miscellany‎^[3], page 341:

     A council of war was called, and the delicates met in the great cabin ; the platform was rigged up on the forecastle, the yard-rope rove, and the signal made for all boats to attend execution

   • 1603, Plutarch, Philemon Holland, transl., The Philosophie, Commonlie Called, The Morals […], London: […] Arnold Hatfield, OCLC 1051546006:

     If Lucullus were not a waster and a delicate given to belly-cheare.