2 ADJ If a movement or action is deliberate , it is done slowly and carefully. □ …stepping with deliberate slowness up the steep paths. ● de|lib|er|ate|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ The Japanese have acted calmly and deliberately.
3 VERB If you deliberate , you think about something carefully, especially before making a very important decision. □ [V + over/about ] She deliberated over the decision for a long time before she made up her mind. □ [V n] The Court of Criminal Appeals has been deliberating his case for almost two weeks.
de|lib|era|tion /d I l I bəre I ʃ ə n/ (deliberations )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Deliberation is the long and careful consideration of a subject. □ After much deliberation, a decision was reached.
2 N‑PLURAL Deliberations are formal discussions where an issue is considered carefully. □ Their deliberations were rather inconclusive.
3 N‑UNCOUNT [usu with N ] If you say or do something with deliberation , you do it slowly and carefully. □ Fred spoke with deliberation. □ My mother folded her coat across the back of the chair with careful deliberation.
de|lib|era|tive /d I l I bərət I v/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A deliberative institution or procedure has the power or the right to make important decisions. [FORMAL ] □ …a deliberative chamber like the House of Commons.
deli|ca|cy /de l I kəsi/ (delicacies )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Delicacy is the quality of being easy to break or harm, and refers especially to people or things that are attractive or graceful. □ [+ of ] …the delicacy of a rose.
2 N‑UNCOUNT If you say that a situation or problem is of some delicacy , you mean that it is difficult to handle and needs careful and sensitive treatment. □ There is a matter of some delicacy which I would like to discuss.
3 N‑UNCOUNT [oft with N ] If someone handles a difficult situation with delicacy , they handle it very carefully, making sure that nobody is offended. □ Both countries are behaving with rare delicacy.
4 N‑COUNT A delicacy is a rare or expensive food that is considered especially nice to eat. □ Smoked salmon was considered an expensive delicacy.
deli|cate /de l I kət/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is delicate is small and beautifully shaped. □ He had delicate hands. ● deli|cate|ly ADV [ADV adj/-ed] □ She was a shy, delicately pretty girl with enormous blue eyes.
2 ADJ Something that is delicate has a colour, taste, or smell which is pleasant and not strong or intense. □ Young haricot beans have a tender texture and a delicate, subtle flavour. ● deli|cate|ly ADV [ADV -ed/adj] □ …a soup delicately flavoured with nutmeg.
3 ADJ If something is delicate , it is easy to harm, damage, or break, and needs to be handled or treated carefully. □ Although the coral looks hard, it is very delicate.
4 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Someone who is delicate is not healthy and strong, and becomes ill easily. □ She was physically delicate and psychologically unstable.
5 ADJ You use delicate to describe a situation, problem, matter, or discussion that needs to be dealt with carefully and sensitively in order to avoid upsetting things or offending people. □ The members are afraid of upsetting the delicate balance of political interests. ● deli|cate|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ …a delicately-worded memo.
6 ADJ A delicate task, movement, action, or product needs or shows great skill and attention to detail. □ …a long and delicate operation carried out at a hospital in Florence. ● deli|cate|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ …the delicately embroidered sheets.
deli|ca|tes|sen /de l I kəte s ə n/ (delicatessens ) N‑COUNT A delicatessen is a shop that sells high quality foods such as cheeses and cold meats that have been imported from other countries.
de|li|cious /d I l I ʃəs/
1 ADJ Food that is delicious has a very pleasant taste. □ There's always a wide selection of delicious meals to choose from. ● de|li|cious|ly ADV [ADV adj/-ed] □ This yoghurt has a deliciously creamy flavour.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something as delicious , you mean that it is very pleasant. □ …that delicious feeling of surprise. ● de|li|cious|ly ADV [ADV adj/-ed] □ It leaves your hair smelling deliciously fresh and fragrant.
de|light ◆◇◇ /d I la I t/ (delights , delighting , delighted )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Delight is a feeling of very great pleasure. □ Throughout the house, the views are a constant source of surprise and delight. □ Andrew roared with delight when he heard Rachel's nickname for the baby. □ To my great delight, it worked perfectly.
2 PHRASE If someone takes delight or takes a delight in something, they get a lot of pleasure from it. □ Haig took obvious delight in proving his critics wrong.
3 N‑COUNT [oft N to-inf] You can refer to someone or something that gives you great pleasure or enjoyment as a delight . [APPROVAL ] □ Sampling the local cuisine is one of the delights of a holiday abroad.
4 VERB If something delights you, it gives you a lot of pleasure. □ [V n] She has created a style of music that has delighted audiences all over the world.
5 VERB If you delight in something, you get a lot of pleasure from it. □ [V + in ] Generations of adults and children have delighted in the story. □ [V + in ] He delighted in sharing his love of birds with children. SYNONYMS delight NOUN 1