delicately
/ˈdɛlɪkətli
/adverb
1In a manner displaying fineness of texture or structure and intricate workmanship: a silk dress delicately embroidered in gold delicately carved wooden sculptures his book is complex and delicately layered...
- There were stalls set up all along the boardwalk, people selling delicately crafted jewellery or gorgeously coloured paintings.
- Pieces are delicately crafted, with full use made of the wonderful texture and colours ingrained in the wood.
- The building's delicately sculpted arches, domes and turrets are brilliantly mirrored in the waters below.
1.1In a pleasantly subtle and subdued manner; lightly: delicately scented leaves a delicately flavoured tea delicately tinted wallpaper...
- The meat was firm, but not tough, and delicately spiced.
- Consumers are seeking out specific specialty honeys, from delicately perfumed sage to citrusy orange blossom.
- The scent of bougainvillea mingles delicately with the aroma of cannelloni.
2In a very careful or finely judged manner; gently: she took the jewel in her hands, holding it delicately...
- She took her time to reach me, walking delicately in my direction.
- Dawn ate delicately, popping the hot pieces carefully into her mouth.
- She had an intricately carved wooden box tucked under her arm that she cradled delicately.
2.1In a highly sensitive or thoughtful way; tactfully: that’s a sensitive issue that has to be approached delicately both players were handled delicately...
- The director deals delicately with the issues of abuse; there is no graphic detail.
- The situation now is proceeding delicately in view of that assumption.
- "Maybe," I conceded delicately, not wanting to be the one to crush her dreams.
2.2In a way that is easily upset or affected: the game was delicately balanced approaching half-time...
- The girl seems delicately poised between past and present, youth and eternity, bedlam and meditation.
- The same forces pushed both towards a resolution of their delicately balanced positions in favour of business and trade respectively.
- With the game delicately poised, it was anybody's in the second half.