Dictionary Workbench Ondict

dainty

Dictionary entry view. Switch to definition mode above when you know the meaning but not the word.

dainty

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++dain·ty1 /ˈdeɪnti/ adjective (comparative daintier, superlative daintiest)  1 SMALLsmall, pretty, and delicate 小巧的,精致的 a dainty gold chain 一条精致的金链子 a child with dainty features 一个容貌俊秀的孩子2 CAREFULmoving or done in a careful way, using small movements 文雅的,优雅的 a dainty walk 优雅的步态daintily adverbdaintiness noun [uncountable]
Examples from the Corpus
daintyHer legs were curled to the side, slender with dainty ankles curving to small, arched feet.Despite their dainty appearance, most of the beetles are carnivorous.She was wearing a short black dress and dainty black sandals.We drank Turkish coffee out of dainty china cups.a dainty eaterShe had small, dainty feet that suited her petite, elegant and meticulous person.She had abandoned the huge earrings for dainty gold studs and wore a fine gold chain round her neck.Nora's present from John was a lovely, dainty little diamond brooch.Sharp little incisors showed when he smiled, matching, in dainty repulsiveness, his naked shins.They scoured the countryside for milk, and conjured up their best skill to prepare dainty viands for her little ladyship.a dainty white handkerchief
Related topics: Food
dainty2 noun (plural dainties) [countable] old-fashioned  DFFOODsomething small that is good to eat, especially something sweet such as a cake 精美可口的小点心〔尤指糕饼等甜点〕
Origin dainty2 (1200-1300) Old French deintié, from Latin dignitas worth; → DIGNITY
delicate pretty, and small, Corpus


dainty
I
dainty1 /ˈdeɪnti/ adjective (comparative daintier, superlative daintiest)
1. small, pretty, and delicate:
    a dainty gold chain
    a child with dainty features
2. moving or done in a careful way, using small movements:
    a dainty walk
—daintily adverb
—daintiness noun [uncountable]

II
dainty2 noun (plural dainties) [countable] old-fashioned
 Date: 1200-1300
 Language: Old French
 Origin: deintié, from Latin dignitas 'worth'; dignity
something small that is good to eat, especially something sweet such as a cake


daintyBrE /ˈdeɪnti/ 🔊NAmE /ˈdeɪnti/ 🔊 adjective (dain·tier, dain·ti·est) (of people and things 人和物) small and delicate in a way that people find attractive 娇小的;娇美的;精致的;小巧的 SYN delicate dainty feet娇小可爱的脚a dainty porcelain cup小巧玲珑的瓷杯(of movements 举止) careful, often in a way that suggests good manners 文雅的;优雅的;高雅的 SYN delicate She took a dainty little bite of the apple. 她文雅地咬了一小口苹果。🔊🔊 dain·tily BrE /ˈdeɪntɪli/ 🔊NAmE /ˈdeɪntɪli/ 🔊 adverbShe blew her nose as daintily as possible. 她尽量文雅地擤了擤鼻涕。🔊🔊 dain·ti·ness BrE /ˈdeɪntinəs/ 🔊NAmE /ˈdeɪntinəs/ 🔊 noun [uncountable]