1 : (count) : a food that people like to eat because it is special or rare
The restaurant serves delicious sausages and other regional delicacies.
2 : (noncount) : the quality of being delicate: such as
a : the quality of being easily broken or damaged
the delicacy of the glassware
b : the quality of being easily injured, hurt, or made sick
the delicacy (=frailty) of his health
c : the attractive quality of something that is formed from many small or fine parts
The curtains were made from fine lace of great delicacy.
a musician known for the delicacy of her compositions
the delicacy of the young boy’s features
d : the appealing quality of something that is not too strong
the delicacy of the perfume
the delicacy of the wine’s flavor
3 : (noncount)
a : special care or skill that is needed to prevent people from becoming upset or angry
This is a difficult situation that should be handled with delicacy. (=tact)
b : the quality of requiring special care or skill
Because of the delicacy of the situation, we needed to speak privately.