# delicate

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈdɛl.ɪ.kət/ · frequency rank #7,003

## Definitions
1. Easily damaged or requiring careful handling.
2. Characterized by a fine structure or thin lines.
3. Intended for use with fragile items.
4. Refined; gentle; scrupulous not to trespass or offend; considerate; said of manners, conduct, or feelings.
5. Of weak health; easily sick; unable to endure hardship.
6. Unwell, especially because of having drunk too much alcohol.
7. Addicted to pleasure; luxurious; voluptuous; alluring.
8. Pleasing to the senses; refined; adapted to please an elegant or cultivated taste.
9. Slight and shapely; lovely; graceful.
10. Light, or softly tinted; said of a colour.
11. Of exacting tastes and habits; dainty; fastidious.
12. Highly discriminating or perceptive; refinedly critical; sensitive; exquisite.
13. Affected by slight causes; showing slight changes.

## Etymology
From Middle English delicat, from Latin dēlicātus (“giving pleasure, delightful, soft, luxurious, delicate, (in Medieval Latin also) fine, slender”), from dēlicia + -ātus (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), usually in plural dēliciae (“pleasure, delight, luxury”), from dēliciō (“to allure, entice”), from dē- (“away”) + laciō (“to lure, to deceive”), from Proto-Italic *lakjō (“to draw, pull”), of unknown ultimate origin. Compare delight, delicious and Spanish delgado (“thin, skinny”). The noun is from a substantivization of the adjective (see -ate).

## Easily confused with
- **deviate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/delicate-vs-deviate)
- **duplicate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/delicate-vs-duplicate)
- **delineate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/delicate-vs-delineate)
- **delicately** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/delicate-vs-delicately)
- **delegate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/delegate-vs-delicate)
- **dedicate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dedicate-vs-delicate)
- **delicacy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/delicacy-vs-delicate)
- **dedicated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dedicated-vs-delicate)

## Common misspellings (11)
`ddelicate`, `deilcate`, `delciate`, `deliacte`, `delicaet`, `delicatte`, `deliccate`, `delictae`, `dellicate`, `dleicate`, `edlicate`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/delicate