delicate

adj.

1. 易损的；易碎的；脆弱的
   easily damaged or broken
   1. delicate china teacups
      易碎的瓷茶杯
   2. The eye is one of the most delicate organs of the body.
      眼睛是人体最娇贵的器官之一。
   3. the delicate ecological balance of the rainforest
      热带雨林极易被破坏的生态平衡
   4. Babies have very delicate skin.
      婴儿的皮肤非常娇嫩。
   5. a cool wash cycle for delicate fabrics
      精细织物冷洗程序
2. 虚弱的；纤弱的
   not strong and easily becoming ill/sick
   1. a delicate child/constitution
      纤弱的孩子 / 体质
3. 纤细的；微小的；精美的；小巧玲珑的
   small and having a beautiful shape or appearance
   1. his delicate hands
      他纤细的手
4. 精致的；精细的；精密的
   made or formed in a very careful and detailed way
   1. the delicate mechanisms of a clock
      钟的精密机件
5. 熟练的；需要技巧的；需要小心处理的；微妙的
   showing or needing skilful, careful or sensitive treatment
   1. I admired your delicate handling of the situation.
      我赞赏你应付这种局面的娴熟技巧。
   2. a delicate problem
      微妙的问题
   3. The delicate surgical operation took five hours.
      这精细的外科手术花了五个小时。
6. 柔和的；清淡可口的；清香的
   light and pleasant; not strong
   1. a delicate fragrance/flavour
      清新的芳香；鲜美的味道
   2. a river scene painted in delicate watercolours
      用柔和的水彩画的河景

1. ADJ-GRADED 娇美的;精美的;雅致的;纤细的
   Something that is delicate is small and beautifully shaped.
   1. He had delicate hands.
      他有一双纤细的手。
   2. ...an evergreen tree with large flame-coloured leaves and delicate blossom.
      长着火红色大叶子、开着娇嫩花朵的常青树
2. ADJ-GRADED (颜色)柔和的;(味道)鲜美的，清淡可口的;（气味）清香的
   Something that is delicate has a colour, taste, or smell which is pleasant and not strong or intense.
   1. Young haricot beans have a tender texture and a delicate, subtle flavour...
      嫩菜豆口感细腻，味道清香、淡雅。
   2. The colours are delicate and shimmering.
      这些颜色柔和且闪烁微光。
3. ADJ-GRADED 娇贵的;脆弱的;易碎的
   If something is delicate, it is easy to harm, damage, or break, and needs to be handled or treated carefully.
   1. Although the coral looks hard, it is very delicate.
      珊瑚虽然看上去坚固，实际上非常易碎。
   2. ...a washing machine catering for every fabric — even the most delicate.
      适合洗涤各种织物的洗衣机——即使是最易损的也没问题
4. ADJ-GRADED 娇弱的;柔弱的
   Someone who is delicate is not healthy and strong, and becomes ill easily.
   1. She was physically delicate and psychologically unstable.
      她身体孱弱，心理上也不够稳定。
5. ADJ-GRADED 微妙的;棘手的;需要小心处理的
   You use delicate to describe a situation, problem, matter, or discussion that needs to be dealt with carefully and sensitively in order to avoid upsetting things or offending people.
   1. The European members are afraid of upsetting the delicate balance of political interests...
      欧洲成员国害怕会打乱各政治利益集团间的微妙平衡。
   2. This sensitive book tackles the delicate issue of adoption with care and simplicity...
      这本敏感的书谨慎、简洁地讨论了收养这一微妙问题。
   3. She turned to Mary Ann. 'This is kind of delicate. Would you excuse us for a moment?'
      她转向玛丽·安：“这件事有些棘手，能让我们私下谈一会儿吗？”
6. ADJ-GRADED 技巧性很强的;注重细节的
   A delicate task, movement, action, or product needs or shows great skill and attention to detail.
   1. ...a long and delicate operation carried out at a hospital in Florence...
      在佛罗伦萨一家医院里进行的一场耗时长、难度高的手术
   2. Each motion must be delicate and precise, involving tiny movements.
      每一个动作都必须小心、准确，一点点地移动。

1. Their marriage is a delicate balance between traditional and contemporary values
   他们的婚姻在传统和现代价值观之间保持着微妙平衡。
2. Which brings me to a delicate matter I should like to raise
   这就把我带到了一个我想提及的敏感问题上。
3. It isn't their diplomatic style to commit themselves on such a delicate issue
   对这样一个微妙的问题明确表态并非他们的外交风格。
4. He had delicate hands.
   他有一双纤细的手。
5. Young haricot beans have a tender texture and a delicate, subtle flavour
   嫩菜豆口感细腻，味道清香、淡雅。
6. The colours are delicate and shimmering.
   这些颜色柔和且闪烁微光。
7. Although the coral looks hard, it is very delicate.
   珊瑚虽然看上去坚固，实际上非常易碎。
8. She was physically delicate and psychologically unstable.
   她身体孱弱，心理上也不够稳定。
9. The European members are afraid of upsetting the delicate balance of political interests
   欧洲成员国害怕会打乱各政治利益集团间的微妙平衡。
10. This sensitive book tackles the delicate issue of adoption with care and simplicity
    这本敏感的书谨慎、简洁地讨论了收养这一微妙问题。
11. She turned to Mary Ann. 'This is kind of delicate. Would you excuse us for a moment?'
    她转向玛丽·安：“这件事有些棘手，能让我们私下谈一会儿吗？”
12. Each motion must be delicate and precise, involving tiny movements.
    每一个动作都必须小心、准确，一点点地移动。
13. Large dams have harmed Siberia's delicate ecological balance.
    大型水坝对西伯利亚脆弱的生态平衡造成了破坏。
14. If either were killed, delicate negotiations would be seriously disrupted.
    二人中任意一个遇害，都会严重扰乱本已非常棘手的谈判。
15. I've always been attracted to very feminine, delicate women
    我总是被十分娇柔纤弱的女子吸引。
16. Until now, the Americans have been playing a very delicate political game.
    直到现在，美国人一直玩着精心设计的政治把戏。
17. The skin is much too delicate
    皮肤太娇嫩了。
18. On fair skin, pale shades are delicate enough not to overpower your colouring.
    浅色太阳镜色彩柔和，皮肤白皙的人戴上不会与肤色形成强烈的反差。
19. She was slender, with delicate wrists and ankles.
    她身量苗条，手腕和脚踝曲线玲珑。
20. The furniture was stiff, uncomfortable, too delicate, and too neat
    家具又硬又不舒服，太不结实而且太小巧。
21. The feet are highly specialised structures made up of 26 small delicate bones.
    脚的结构非常特殊，由26块细小的骨头组成。
22. Its large leaves often show a delicate purple tint
    它的大叶子往往带点紫色。
23. The name Latifah, by the way, means 'delicate'
    顺便说一句，Latifah这个名字意思是“娇嫩”。
24. An irony is so quiet and so delicate that many readers never notice it.
    一句讥讽的话是那样的温和，那样的含蓄不露，以致许多读者都没有注意到。
25. Young children have delicate skin.
    小孩子肉皮儿嫩。
26. The flowers sent forth a delicate fragrance.
    花儿散发着清香。
27. The girl's delicacy [ delicate health] has always worried her parents.
    这女孩纤弱的体质一直使她的父母感到忧虑。
28. What exquisite [ delicate] ivory carvings these are!
    这几件象牙雕刻做得真细！
29. What delicate embroidery!
    多么精美的绣品啊！
30. This soap has a delicate, flower like fragrance.
    这种肥皂有一股花一般的芳香。

adj

1. exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing
   1. a delicate violin passage
   2. delicate china
   3. a delicate flavor
   4. the delicate wing of a butterfly

2. easily broken or damaged or destroyed
   1. a kite too delicate to fly safely
   2. fragile porcelain plates
   3. fragile old bones
   4. a frail craft

   Synonym:    fragilefrail

3. difficult to handle
   1. delicate negotiations with the big powers
   2. a touchy subject

   Synonym:    ticklishtouchy

4. developed with extreme delicacy and subtlety
   1. the satire touches with finespun ridicule every kind of human pretense

   Synonym:    finespun

5. of an instrument or device
   1. almost undetectable with even the most delicate instruments

6. marked by great skill especially in meticulous technique
   1. a surgeon's delicate touch

7. easily hurt
   1. soft hands
   2. a baby's delicate skin

   Synonym:    soft