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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/