delicacy

B2 Topic:Food & Drink

US /ˈdɛləkəsi/ UK /ˈdɛlɪkəsi/ See IPA manual

Freq #15321

Meanings

1

noun
A special and tasty food, often rare or typical of a certain culture.

Snails are considered a delicacy in France.
2

noun
Care and sensitivity in handling a difficult or sensitive situation.

The subject was handled with great delicacy.
3

noun
The quality of being fine, light, and beautiful.

The delicacy of the lace amazed everyone.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 noun · care and sensitivity in... diplomacy finesse

3 noun · the quality of being fine,... daintiness fineness

Word family

Forms delicacies

Derived forms hyperdelicacyindelicacyoverdelicacy

Related forms delicate delicatessen delicious delight

Etymology

From Middle English delicacie, from Middle English delicat, from Latin delicatus. Equivalent to delicate + -cy.

delicacie Middle English delicat Middle English delicatus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Food & Drink Register & Style

External links

# delicacy

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈdɛləkəsi/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈdɛlɪkəsi/
**Frequency rank:** 15321

## Meanings
1. A special and tasty food, often rare or typical of a certain culture.
2. Care and sensitivity in handling a difficult or sensitive situation.
3. The quality of being fine, light, and beautiful.

## Examples
- Snails are considered a delicacy in France.
- The subject was handled with great delicacy.
- The delicacy of the lace amazed everyone.

## Derived Forms
- hyperdelicacy
- indelicacy
- overdelicacy

## Related Forms
- delicate
- delicatessen
- delicious
- delight

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: delicacie
- Root: delicat
- Root: delicatus

## Etymology
From Middle English delicacie, from Middle English delicat, from Latin delicatus. Equivalent to delicate + -cy.

## AI Etymology
delicacy comes from Middle English delicacie, from Middle English delicat, from Latin delicatus. Equivalent to delicate + -cy. The historical chain includes Middle English delicacie, Middle English delicat, Latin delicatus. Current senses include A special and tasty food, often rare or typical of a certain culture and Care and sensitivity in handling a difficult or sensitive situation. English relatives and later formations include hyperdelicacy, indelicacy, overdelicacy, delicate, delicatessen.

## Topics
- Food & Drink
- Register & Style

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