fineness of texture, quality, etc.; softness; daintiness

the delicacy of lace.

something delightful or pleasing, esp. a choice food considered with regard to its rarity, costliness, or the like

Caviar is a great delicacy.

the quality of being easily broken or damaged; fragility.

the quality of requiring or involving great care or tact

negotiations of great delicacy.

extreme sensitivity; precision of action or operation; minute accuracy

the delicacy of a skillful surgeon's touch; a watch mechanism of unusual delicacy.

fineness of perception or feeling; sensitiveness

the delicacy of the pianist's playing.

fineness of feeling with regard to what is fitting, proper, etc.

Delicacy would not permit her to be rude.

sensitivity with regard to the feelings of others

She criticized him with such delicacy that he was not offended.

bodily weakness; liability to sickness; frailty.

Linguistics . (esp. in systemic linguistics) the degree of minuteness pursued at a given stage of analysis in specifying distinctions in linguistic description.

Obsolete . sensuous indulgence; luxury.

noun

coarseness , heaviness , indelicacy , inelegance , robustness , roughness , indiscrimination

noun

airiness , debility , diaphaneity , elegance , etherealness , exquisiteness , fragility , frailness , frailty , gossameriness , infirmity , lightness , slenderness , smoothness , softness , subtlety , tenderness , tenuity , translucency , transparency , weakness , ambrosia , banquet , bonne bouche , dainty , delight , dessert , feast , goody , indulgence , luxury , morsel , nectar , pleasure , rarity , regale , relish , savory , special , sweet , tidbit , treat , decrepitude , delicateness , feebleness , flimsiness , fragileness , insubstantiality , puniness , unsoundness , unsubstantiality , weakliness , daintiness , discrimination , exactness , fastidiousness , fineness , finesse , junket , nicety , precision , propriety , refinement , savoir faire , sensitiveness , tact , taste