delicacy
/ˈdelɪkəsi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdelɪkəsi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈde-li-kə-sē/ (ame, mw)
delicacy — noun
- delicacysingular
- delicaciesplural
1. Any food that people treat as special, unusual, or costly — often one linked to
Any food that people treat as special, unusual, or costly — often one linked to a particular region or celebration.
In coastal towns, fresh oysters are sold as a local delicacy.
local delicacy — typical collocation for place-specific food
Heloísa brought back a rare delicacy made from wild truffles.
The festival offered delicacies from every region of the country.
Reema's grandmother taught her to prepare the family's traditional delicacy.
During winter, the restaurant serves a delicacy that few tourists know about.
- treat
less formal, does not imply rarity or expense — any enjoyable food or drink
- specialty
focuses on what a place or person is known for, not necessarily expensive
- luxury food
emphasises high cost and indulgence rather than cultural tradition
- staple
a basic, everyday food eaten regularly
常見錯誤
2. careful and sensitive behavior in a situation where people's feelings might be h
careful and sensitive behavior in a situation where people's feelings might be hurt or where the topic could cause embarrassment.
Christopher brought up the sensitive topic with great delicacy, choosing every word.
great delicacy — common intensifier + noun pattern
The situation called for delicacy, so Anong waited for the right moment to speak.
Heloísa handled the customer's complaint with such delicacy that he left satisfied.
Discussing a family member's health issues requires a certain amount of delicacy.
Nala thanked her boss for the criticism, showing delicacy in how she accepted the feedback.
- tact
the most direct synonym; a common noun for handling sensitive situations skilfully
- discretion
emphasises keeping things private or avoiding public embarrassment
- diplomacy
more formal; often used in professional or political contexts
- sensitivity
focuses on being aware of others' feelings rather than acting on that awareness
- tactlessness
behaviour that offends or upsets people without awareness
- bluntness
being too direct or honest without considering feelings
用法筆記
Uncountable. Frequently used with verbs such as 'require', 'call for', 'show', 'handle with'. The object of the delicacy is a sensitive topic or social situation, not a physical object.
常見錯誤
3. How easily something can be broken or harmed, especially when it is thin, old, o
How easily something can be broken or harmed, especially when it is thin, old, or finely made.
The delicacy of the old lace meant Adina had to hand-wash it carefully.
the delicacy of [object] — shows what is fragile
Dario was amazed by the delicacy of the butterfly's patterned wings.
Because of the glass sculptures' delicacy, the museum kept them behind a rope.
Yuki examined the ancient porcelain with care, aware of its delicacy.
- fragility
more common in everyday speech for physical objects; direct synonym
- frailty
often used for people or living things rather than objects
- vulnerability
broader; includes emotional or systemic weakness, not just physical
- sturdiness
the quality of being strong and unlikely to break
- toughness
the quality of being able to withstand rough handling
用法筆記
Uncountable. Often used to explain why something needs special treatment. Can apply to physical objects, living things, or abstract systems (e.g., the delicacy of a peace agreement). Distinguish from sense 2 (TACTFULNESS) — this sense is about physical or structural vulnerability, not interpersonal sensitivity.
常見錯誤
4. The care and gentle skill with which a task is performed, especially one that ne
The care and gentle skill with which a task is performed, especially one that needs fine control.
Brain surgery requires a level of delicacy that takes many years to develop.
level of delicacy — measuring the degree of precision needed
Gabriela restored the old painting with the delicacy of a trained professional.
The pianist played the slow section with great delicacy and emotional depth.
Lotte carved the small wooden bird with the delicacy needed for the tiny feathers.
- clumsiness
awkward or careless movement that lacks control
- roughness
lack of gentleness or fine control in handling something
用法筆記
Uncountable. Unlike sense 2 (TACTFULNESS), this sense applies to manual, artistic, or technical skill rather than social situations. Often found in descriptions of craftsmanship, surgery, music, or restoration work.
常見錯誤
5. a state or quality of being luxurious, involving expensive and beautiful surroun
a state or quality of being luxurious, involving expensive and beautiful surroundings or self-indulgent pleasure.
The palace offered a life of delicacy that the villagers could hardly imagine.
life of delicacy — pattern meaning luxurious lifestyle
Dahlia's hotel suite was a haven of pure delicacy, with silk curtains and marble floors.
The penthouse apartment, decorated with crystal chandeliers and Italian marble, impressed Layla with its quiet delicacy.
The hotel's decor suggested a certain delicacy that matched its high prices.
- luxury
far more common in modern English; the direct everyday word for expensive comfort
- opulence
emphasises great wealth and rich decoration; more formal
- indulgence
focuses on the act of allowing oneself pleasure, not necessarily surroundings
用法筆記
Uncountable. This sense overlaps partially with sense 4 (PRECISION) but focuses on lavishness and expense rather than skill. Less common in modern usage; 'luxury' is far more frequent.