delicacy
Other forms: delicacies
A ballerina's quick, perfect steps? An antique porcelain teacup? A tiny sentence etched inside a silver locket? All of these have delicacy, or fineness that comes from being light, beautiful, or small.
A delicacy can also be a prized dish that is eaten on special occasions or is especially loved by those in a certain culture or place. But what is a delicacy to some (chocolate-covered crickets, anyone?) might disgust others. Remember to use delicacy, or tact, in turning down someone else's delicacies. This could help you avoid hurting someone's feelings.
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the quality of being beautiful and delicate in appearancesynonyms: daintiness, finenesstype of:elegancea refined quality of gracefulness and good taste
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refined taste; tactsynonyms: discretiontype of:appreciation, discernment, perceptiveness, tastedelicate discrimination (especially of aesthetic values)
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smallness of staturesynonyms: slightness
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lack of physical strength
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lightness in movement or mannersynonyms: airiness
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subtly skillful handling of a situationsynonyms: diplomacy, discreetness, finesse
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something considered choice to eattypes:ambrosia, nectar(classical mythology) the food and drink of the gods; mortals who ate it became immortalgelatin, jellyan edible jelly (sweet or pungent) made with gelatin and used as a dessert or salad base or a coating for foodscalf's-foot jellya savory jelly made with gelatin obtained by boiling calves' feetconfectionerycandy and other sweets considered collectivelyconfiturepreserved or candied fruitsweetmeata sweetened delicacy (as a preserve or pastry)hardbakea British sweet made with molasses and butter and almondscandied apple, candy apple, caramel apple, taffy apple, toffee applean apple that is covered with a candy-like substance (usually caramelized sugar)center, centrethe sweet central portion of a piece of candy that is enclosed in chocolate or some other coveringcomfitcandy containing a fruit or nutnonpareilcolored beads of sugar used as a topping on e.g. candies and cookiesgelatin dessertjellied dessert made with gelatin and fruit juice or wateraspicsavory jelly based on fish or meat stock used as a mold for meats or vegetablestype of:aliment, alimentation, nourishment, nutriment, nutrition, sustenance, victualsa source of materials to nourish the body
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Vocabulary lists containing delicacy
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Derived from Latin, the English suffix -acy in English means "the state of" or "the quality or condition of."