delicacy

delicacy

noun

Definition of DELICACY

1

something that is pleasing to eat because it is rare or a luxury <presented with a plate of national delicacies while they waited for the queen>

Synonyms bit, cate [archaic], dainty, delectable, goody (or goodie), kickshaw, tidbit (also titbit), treat, viand

Related Words morsel; candy, dessert, junket, sweet, sweetmeat

2

the state or quality of having a delicate structure <we never cease to marvel at the delicacy of a snowflake>

Synonyms daintiness, exquisiteness, fineness, fragility, frangibility

Related Words diaphanousness, flimsiness, insubstantiality, wispiness; brittleness, crumbliness, friability

Near Antonyms firmness, solidity; strength

Antonyms coarseness, crudeness, crudity, roughness, rudeness

3

the tendency to be or state of being squeamish <the urgent need for blood prompted many people to overcome their habitual delicacy and become first-time donors>

Synonyms qualmishness, queasiness, squeamishness

Related Words daintiness, fastidiousness, finicalness, finickiness, fussiness

Near Antonyms boldness, gutsiness

Antonyms indelicacy

4

the quality or state of being very accurate <the delicacy of the watch movement is incredible>

Synonyms accuracy, accurateness, closeness, delicacy, exactitude, exactness, fineness, nicety, perfection, preciseness, rigor, rigorousness, ultraprecision, veracity

Related Words correctness, fidelity, rightness, strictness, truth; definiteness, definitiveness, definitude, determinacy; nicety, subtlety; care, carefulness, fastidiousness, meticulousness, persnicketiness

Near Antonyms approximation, roundness; falseness, falsity, incorrectness, wrongness; carelessness, guesswork, looseness; indefiniteness, vagueness

Antonyms coarseness, impreciseness, imprecision, inaccuracy, inexactitude, inexactness, roughness

5

the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor <all of her life the shy poet gave the appearance of extreme delicacy>

Synonyms asthenia, debilitation, debility, delicacy, enervation, enfeeblement, faintness, feebleness, fragility, frailness, frailty, infirmity, languidness, languor, listlessness, lowness, wimpiness

Related Words decay, decrepitude; breakdown, collapse, prostration; exhaustion, fatigue, lassitude, weariness; defenselessness, helplessness, impotence, impuissance, powerlessness; effeteness, softness, tenderness; disablement, incapacitation, invalidism; damage, harm, hurt, impairment, injury

Near Antonyms energy, vitality; brawniness, fitness, heftiness, huskiness, lustiness, muscularity, virility; hardness, ruggedness, stoutness, sturdiness, toughness; health, healthiness, soundness, wellness

Antonyms hardihood, hardiness, robustness, strength, vigor

6

the state or quality of being able to sense slight impressions or differences <the delicacy of the sensor is such that it will be affected by the slightest vibration>

Synonyms acuteness, delicacy, keenness, perceptiveness, perceptivity, sensitiveness, sensitivity, sharpness

Related Words hyperacuity, hypersensitiveness, hypersensitivity, oversensitiveness, oversensitivity, supersensitivity; accuracy, exactitude, exactness, fineness