delicacy B2 Topic:Describing Qualities 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... diplomacyfinesse 3 noun · the quality of being fine,... daintinessfineness Word family Forms delicacies Derived forms hyperdelicacyindelicacyoverdelicacy Related forms delicatedelicatessendeliciousdelight Etymology AI details 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 Describing Qualities Register & Style External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # 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 - Describing Qualities - Register & Style markdown