Food vs. Delicacy

(uncountable) Any solid substance that can be consumed by living organisms, especially by eating, in order to sustain life.

Example: ‘The innkeeper brought them food and drink.’;

(countable) A foodstuff.

Anything that nourishes or sustains.

Example: ‘The man's inspiring speech gave us food for thought.’; ‘Mozart and Bach are food for my soul.’;

What is fed upon; that which goes to support life by being received within, and assimilated by, the organism of an animal or a plant; nutriment; aliment; especially, what is eaten by animals for nourishment.

Anything that instructs the intellect, excites the feelings, or molds habits of character; that which nourishes.

Example: ‘This may prove food to my displeasure.’; ‘In this moment there is life and foodFor future years.’;

To supply with food.

any substance that can be metabolized by an organism to give energy and build tissue

any solid substance (as opposed to liquid) that is used as a source of nourishment;

Example: ‘food and drink’;

anything that provides mental stimulus for thinking

any nutritious substance that people or animals eat or drink or that plants absorb in order to maintain life and growth

Example: ‘music is food for the soul’; ‘baby foods’; ‘food shortages’; ‘we need food and water’; ‘they had eaten their food and slept’;

Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for an organism. Food is usually of plant, animal or fungal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals.

The quality of being delicate.

Something appealing, usually a pleasing food, especially a choice dish of a certain culture suggesting rarity and refinement -a Chinese delicacy

Fineness or elegance of construction or appearance.

Frailty of health or fitness.

Refinement in taste or discrimination.

Tact and propriety; the need for such tact.

The state or condition of being delicate; agreeableness to the senses; delightfulness; as, delicacy of flavor, of odor, and the like.

Example: ‘What choice to choose for delicacy best.’;

Nicety or fineness of form, texture, or constitution; softness; elegance; smoothness; tenderness; and hence, frailty or weakness; as, the delicacy of a fiber or a thread; delicacy of a hand or of the human form; delicacy of the skin; delicacy of frame.

Nice propriety of manners or conduct; susceptibility or tenderness of feeling; refinement; fastidiousness; and hence, in an exaggerated sense, effeminacy; as, great delicacy of behavior; delicacy in doing a kindness; delicacy of character that unfits for earnest action.

Example: ‘You know your mother's delicacy in this point.’;

Addiction to pleasure; luxury; daintiness; indulgence; luxurious or voluptuous treatment.

Example: ‘And to those dainty limbs which Nature lentFor gentle usage and soft delicacy?’;

Nice and refined perception and discrimination; critical niceness; fastidious accuracy.

Example: ‘That Augustan delicacy of taste which is the boast of the great public schools of England.’;

The state of being affected by slight causes; sensitiveness; as, the delicacy of a chemist's balance.

That which is alluring, delicate, or refined; a luxury or pleasure; something pleasant to the senses, especially to the sense of taste; a dainty; as, delicacies of the table.

Example: ‘The merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.’;

Pleasure; gratification; delight.

Example: ‘He Rome brent for his delicacie.’;

the quality of being beautiful and delicate in appearance;

Example: ‘the daintiness of her touch’; ‘the fineness of her features’;

something considered choice to eat

refined taste; tact

smallness of stature

lack of physical strength

subtly skillful handling of a situation

lightness in movement or manner

A delicacy is usually a rare or expensive food item that is considered highly desirable, sophisticated or peculiarly distinctive, within a given culture. Irrespective of local preferences, such a label is typically pervasive throughout a region.