matter of some delicacy.    m ^ A # A A M f- W p]

® o 5 [C] a type of food considered to be very special in a particular place fit HW#%; ## Em special­ity : local delicacies ij M W H ifj£# deli-cate Otw /'delikat/ adj.

1                  easily damaged or broken MiRtf); H W; fit M fit) cm fragile : delicate china teacups M W % If' o The eye is one of the most delicate organs of the body.

Aff H#F;w Wf&'iF £■“«;= o the delicate ecological balance of the rainforest  W^iSAftr

0 Babies have very delicate skin. ^JLW&li^'ml^lio 0 a cool wash cycle for delicate fabrics If M IR M A '/A @

2                  (of a person A) not strong and easily becoming ill/sick M If 6$; Jjs] W: a delicate child/constitution

Wi^A / #1^ 3 small and having a beautiful shape or appearance        it/KW; fiHW; /.M^^W:

his delicate hands fife if iH W A 4 made or formed in a very careful and detailed way )|i W; W;

W: the delicate mechanisms of a clock # W If ^ til ff 5 showing or needing skilful, careful or sensitive treatment IMS W; fr^M^W; fr^/j'i'&hHW; '0.f& W: I admired your delicate handling of the situation.

O a delicate problem l'R] M 0 The delicate surgical operation took five hours. jA^£fflW£hf4AA&TAAABf c 6 (of colours, flavours and smells M   it , H 5fc) light and

pleasant; not strong % ffl W ; nj P W ; ft# W cm subtle : a delicate fragrance/flavour '/# ffr W If; If It W iS O a river scene painted in delicate watercolours A^®iWM:]|: deli-cate-ly adv.-.

He stepped delicately over the broken glass. ftkAAHiitik iif ilfif   0 delicately balanced flavours tit AtJIPEW

mm

deli ca tessen /.delika'tesn/ (also deli) noun a shop/ store or part of one that sells cooked meats and cheeses, and special or unusual foods that come from other countries ( tBHI&pA AS&fRjSdMiM'tFnW ) E &*#&.

de li cious /di'lijas/ adj. 1 having a very pleasant taste or smell W; pT P W;     VPio cooked this? It’s

delicious. it f$ W ? 5^if To 2 {literary) extremely pleasant or enjoyable AAlfilAW; AA4FA W; SA W: the delicious coolness of the breeze fP5<Uli^ ► de-li- cious-ly adv. deliciously creamy soup nf p W#5i& Mi de light tHr /di'lait/ noun, verb unoun 1 [U] a feeling of great pleasure jfljA; Mf'IA; cm joy: a feeling ofsheer/pure delight AAflljAWA ft 0 The children squealed with delight when they saw the puppy.         o She

won the game easily, to the delight of all her fans,

ttMiimmM,         oHe

takes (great) delight in (= enjoys) proving others wrong.

( —A )       o- note at pleasure

2 [C] something that gives you great pleasure A A iij A W^Ps     cm joy: This guitar is a delight to

play. 0 the delights of living in the

country

verb [VN] to give sb a lot of pleasure and enjoyment {4 i^A; fA 'fit fA; fAtiAA: This news will delight his fans all over the world.        Af&'if'Jift

Ao lasisiTi de light in sth/doing sth [no passive] to enjoy doing sth very much, especially sth that makes other people feel embarrassed, uncomfortable, etc.

I*mW# ) de lighted O-w /dTlaitid/ adj.

~ (to do sth) | ~ (that ... ) | ~ (by/at/with sth) very pleased dXW; It 'ft W; 'ft 3s W: a delighted smile it 'lAWfi^: 0 I’d be absolutely delighted to come.

IfftilAo 0 I was delighted that you could stay, ff A^iSi^Ao 0 She was delighted by/at the news of the wedding. P/f 3\ MAW H M til M A 0 0 I was delighted with my presents. ft i& jgij W ? I $1II $t li; 0 o note at glad ► de light ed ly adv.

de lightful /dilaitfl/ adj. very pleasant {A A If A W ; A A it 'ft W ; SAW cm charming : a delightful book/restaurant/town AAfliAWA; ffiiW#^; SA

W^rfl a delightful child if AflftWS? o note at wonderful ► de light ful ly /di'laitfali/ adv.

de-limit /di’limit/ verb [VN] (formal) to decide what the limits of sth are      US;

delineate /di'linieit/ verb [VN] (formal) to describe, draw or explain sth in detail ( if ) fSiff Ml®, M #: Our objectives need to be precisely delineated. $5i|] W BM ^ #M B M o O The ship’s route is clearly delineated on the map.

3                  de-lin-ea-tion /di.lini'eijn/ noun [U, C]

de lin quency /di'lnjkwansi/ noun [u, C] (pi. -ies) bad or criminal behaviour, usually of young people ( W SAW ) IEP,    an increase in juvenile delin-

quency WAS^GfPW^jlO

de lin quent /di'lirjkwant/ adj. 1 (especially of young people or their behaviour AiaWSA^^if A) showing a tendency to commit crimes ffili&M [&J W: delinquent teenagers vf g.# AS 2 (NAmE, finance M) having failed to pay money that is owed MAfS#W; Aff SiS W: a delinquent borrower A^A£EWj0#CA 3 (NAmE, finance M) (of a sum of money not having been paid in time PJ W) A S W : a delinquent loan it M A15 W

4                  de lin quent nounsee also juvenile delinquent

deli-quesce /.deli'kwes/ verb [V] (formal) 1 to become

liquid as a result of decaying ( ®#jArfn ) MM- 2 (chem­istry it) to become liquid as a result of absorbing water from the air jf] deli quescence /.deli'kwesns/ noun [U]

deli rious /di'lirias; BrE also -'liarias/ adj. 1 in an excited state and not able to think or speak clearly, usually because of fever MJf W, ftW, ffc& W (    ) ; He became delirious and

couldn’t recognize people. flfeBffSffiSiAflTo 2 extremely excited and happy U & A W; IfA'Jtt'IA W: The crowds were delirious with joy. Af^/AH^fEo

5                  de li ri ous ly adv.

de-lir-ium /di'liriam; BrE also -'liariam/ noun [U] a men­tal state where sb becomes delirious, usually because of illness iSH,      ) c fits

of delirium        a

delirium tremens /di.liriam 'triimenz; BrE also -.liariam/ noun [U] (medical E) = DTs de-liver O-w /di'liva(r)/ verb

6                  TAKE GOODS/LETTERS / ft 1 ~ (sth) (to sb/sth) to take

goods, letters, etc. to the person or people they have been sent to; to take sb somewhere H E ; j# j£; 3C # ; jgs fc: [VN] Leaflets have been delivered to every household, ft if B          0 0 Do you have your

milk delivered? W           ih^l AM®j? 0 [V] We promise

to deliver within 48 hours, 48 ABf lAiSI'Jo

7                  GIVE SPEECH AAfUift 2 [VN] to give a speech, talk, etc.

or other official statement A A; Mfp ; \ She is

due to deliver a lecture on genetic engineering, til $§ ^ j#

AAAftSUlWjllifo 0 He delivered his lines confidently, ffeftiIf Jtfc T it W B isJ => 0 The jury finally delivered its verdict. Pg^0^Aifti?T$5$:o

8                  KEEP PROMISE Mti Ifi W 3 ~ (on sth) to do what you

promised to do or what you are expected to do; to produce or provide what people expect you to M fj if W;       JnLSB [V] He has promised to finish the

job by June and I am sure he will deliver.   A A

0 She always

delivers on her promises.   AiAi* □ 0 [VN] If you

can’t deliver improved sales figures, you’re fired. A

o The team

delivered a stunning victory last night. Bf  A

M, A^Afto

9                  GIVE TO SB’S CONTROL ^ A W 4'J 4 [VN] ~ sb/sth (up/over) (to sb) (formal) to give sb/sth to sb else so that they are under this person’s control ; ;$!#; l£3c: They delivered their prisoner over to the invading army.

mw-o

10                BABY ^ JL 5 [VN] ~ a baby to help a woman to give

birth to a baby DjA; The baby was delivered by

Caesarean section. iAA^JLJlp!]0ATWo 6 [VN] be delivered of a baby (formal) to give birth to a baby jf

A ® A: She was delivered of a healthy boy. ftfcAT