delicatea.[L. delicatus pleasing the senses, voluptuous, soft and tender; akin to deliciae delight: cf. F. dlicat. See Delight.]1. Addicted to pleasure; luxurious; voluptuous; alluring.()Dives, for his delicate life, to the devil went. (Piers Plowman.)Haarlem is a very delicate town. (Evelyn.)2. Pleasing to the senses; refinedly agreeable; hence, adapted to please a nice or cultivated taste; nice; fine; elegant; as, a delicate dish; delicate flavor.()3. Slight and shapely; lovely; graceful; as, a delicate creature.(Shak.)4. Fine or slender; minute; not coarse; -- said of a thread, or the like; as, delicate cotton.()5. Slight or smooth; light and yielding; -- said of texture; as, delicate lace or silk.()6. Soft and fair; -- said of the skin or a surface; as, a delicate cheek; a delicate complexion.()7. Light, or softly tinted; -- said of a color; as, a delicate blue.()8. Refined; gentle; scrupulous not to trespass or offend; considerate; -- said of manners, conduct, or feelings; as, delicate behavior; delicate attentions; delicate thoughtfulness.()9. Tender; not able to endure hardship; feeble; frail; effeminate; -- said of constitution, health, etc.; as, a delicate child; delicate health.()A delicate and tender prince. (Shak.)10. Requiring careful handling; not to be rudely or hastily dealt with; nice; critical; as, a delicate subject or question.()There are some things too delicate and too sacred to be handled rudely without injury to truth. (F. W. Robertson.)11. Of exacting tastes and habits; dainty; fastidious.()12. Nicely discriminating or perceptive; refinedly critical; sensitive; exquisite; as, a delicate taste; a delicate ear for music.()13. Affected by slight causes; showing slight changes; as, a delicate thermometer.()n.1. A choice dainty; a delicacy.()With abstinence all delicates he sees. (Dryden.)()2. A delicate, luxurious, or effeminate person.()All the vessels, then, which our delicates have, -- those I mean that would seem to be more fine in their houses than their neighbors, -- are only of the Corinth metal. (Holland.)