subtle

adj.

1. 不易察觉的；不明显的；微妙的
   not very noticeable or obvious
   1. subtle colours/flavours/smells, etc.
      淡淡的色彩、味道、气味等
   2. There are subtle differences between the two versions.
      两个版本之间有一些细微的差异。
   3. She's been dropping subtle hints about what she'd like as a present.
      她不断隐隐暗示她喜欢什么样的礼物。
2. 机智的；机巧的；狡猾的
   behaving in a clever way, and using indirect methods, in order to achieve sth
   1. I decided to try a more subtle approach.
      我决定智取。
3. 巧妙的
   organized in a clever way
   1. a subtle plan
      巧妙的计划
   2. a subtle use of lighting in the play
      灯光在剧中的巧妙运用
4. 敏锐的；头脑灵活的
   good at noticing and understanding things
   1. The job required a subtle mind.
      那项工作需要一个头脑敏锐的人去做。

1. ADJ-GRADED 不易察觉的;不明显的;微妙的
   Something that is subtle is not immediately obvious or noticeable.
   1. ...the slow and subtle changes that take place in all living things...
      发生在所有生物身上的缓慢而细微的变化
   2. Intolerance can take subtler forms too.
      过敏反应也可能会表现得很不明显。
2. ADJ-GRADED 机智的;机巧的;狡猾的
   A subtle person cleverly uses indirect methods to achieve something.
   1. I even began to exploit him in subtle ways...
      我甚至开始巧妙地利用他。
   2. He is a subtle character, you know.
      你知道他为人狡猾。
3. ADJ-GRADED 清淡的;隐约的;柔和的
   Subtle smells, tastes, sounds, or colours are pleasantly complex and delicate.
   1. ...subtle shades of brown.
      淡棕色
   2. ...delightfully subtle scents.
      怡人的淡淡香气
   3. ...whole aubergines in a very subtle sauce.
      清淡的调味汁里整只的茄子

1. Some of the designs are subtle, some gloriously OTT.
   有些设计含蓄精妙，有些夸张绚丽。
2. The tactics employed can range from overt bullying to subtle emotional blackmail.
   从公然威吓到微妙的情感胁迫，各种战术都用上了。
3. The public areas offer a subtle blend of traditional charm with modern amenities.
   这些公共场所将传统魅力和现代设施巧妙地融合在了一起。
4. It is here that most students fall into a subtle and deadly trap.
   正是在这一点上大多数学生落入了一个不易察觉但却非常危险的陷阱。
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. Herbs have been used for centuries to endow a whole range of foods with subtle flavours.
   数个世纪以来，香草一直被用于给各种食物增添淡淡的香味。
7. He believes many 'psychics' are frauds who rely on perception and subtle deception.
   他认为许多“通灵者”都是骗子，他们都是靠直觉和巧妙的骗术蒙人。
8. But TV images require subtle gradations of light and shade.
   但是，电视影像要求有十分细微的光影变化。
9. His film, over two hours in length, is a subtle study of family life.
   他这部片长逾两个小时的电影对家庭生活进行了巧妙的剖析。
10. We can use our eyes and facial expressions to communicate virtually every subtle nuance of emotion there is.
    我们用眼睛和面部表情几乎就能传达出情感上的每一丝微妙变化。
11. 'That's much too subtle, even for Sam.' — 'Even for Sam!' He pounced on the phrase with a sound of triumph.
    “那太微妙了，即便对萨姆来说。”——“即便对山姆来说！”，他得意洋洋地抓住了这句话。
12. Their language is particularly difficult to learn because of its subtle shading of tone and emphasis.
    他们的语言因为音调和重音上的细微变化而特别难学。
13. Intolerance can take subtler forms too.
    过敏反应也可能会表现得很不明显。
14. I even began to exploit him in subtle ways
    我甚至开始巧妙地利用他。
15. He is a subtle character, you know.
    你知道他为人狡猾。
16. A person's psychology is a subtle thing. How true it is that words are echoes of the heart.
    人的心理真是奇妙，言为心声一点不假。
17. One's speech is subtle.
    言谈微中。
18. We should have known that we are living in the subtle happiness surroundings every day.
    其实，我们每天生活在小幸福之中，只是浑然不觉。
19. Light reveals the subtle alteration of things, the sly or calamitous impermanence or mortal life.
    事物的细微变动，人生的狡猾，倏忽无常，一一都在光中显露出来。
20. There's a subtle hint of garlic in the sauce.
    调味汁里稍微有一点蒜味。
21. Those subtle patterns on the silk look elegant.
    暗花儿的缎面儿看上去特别雅致。
22. I perceived a subtle change in his attitude.
    我察觉出他的态度有了微妙变化。
23. It's a subtle distinction, but one that is critical in quantum computing.
    这是一个细微的区别，但却是量子计算中的一个重要区别。
24. I detected a subtle change in his attitude towards us.
    我发觉他对我们的态度发生了微妙的变化。
25. It's subtle, you have to be intuitive or watch clues.
    运用你的直觉或对线索的观察去体验这微妙的关系。
26. Sometimes, I can sense my subtle relations with the plant.
    有时，我隐约感觉它和我有着微妙的关系。
27. She will introduce the subtle system related our physical body, and experience the realization.
    她要介绍和身体相关微妙的系统和实现经验。
28. Now there are more subtle critiques, too.
    如今也出现了更为精巧的批评。
29. This adds a nice, subtle highlight.
    这增加了一个不错的，微妙的亮点。
30. All this exerts a subtle influence on Dickens.
    他的父亲乐观性格和幽默的才能，对狄更斯也产生了潜移默化的影响。

  fine delicate subtle【导航词义：细微的，微妙的】

  fine adj. 细微的

〔辨析〕指细节、变化、区别等十分微小，因而难以理解或觉察的，通常作定语。

  delicate adj. 微妙的

〔辨析〕指局势、问题、讨论等需要谨慎对待的，以免引起问题或触怒某人。

  subtle adj. 细微的，微妙的

〔辨析〕指气味、差别、行为等只有通过仔细观察才能注意或感受到的，常含褒义。

adj

1. working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way
   1. glaucoma is an insidious disease
   2. a subtle poison

   Synonym:    insidiouspernicious

2. difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
   1. his whole attitude had undergone a subtle change
   2. a subtle difference
   3. that elusive thing the soul

   Synonym:    elusive

3. able to make fine distinctions
   1. a subtle mind