delicacy.

1. A fine, subtle quality of appearance, texture, or execution.

2. Care in handling a matter that could cause embarrassment or harm.

3. A food valued as especially pleasing or uncommon.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• delicacy of line
• delicacy of texture

On the page

The drawing's delicacy survived the faded paper.

Usage notes

Primary category: literary / elevated general. Forms: Usually uncountable; no ordinary plural in this sense. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Writing functions: character, atmosphere, interpretation. Commonness: moderately common.