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delivery
delegated my command to Captain Roberts. 2 [T] to appoint
as a representative or to do a particular job: [+obj+to-v] I've
been delegated to organize the weekly meetings.
del·e·ga·tion /ˌdelɪˈɡeɪʃən/ n 1 [U] the act of delegating or
the state of being delegated 2 [C+sing./pl. v] a group of
delegates: The French delegation is/are just arriving at the
conference.
de·lete /dɪˈliːt/ v [T(from)] to take, rub, or cut out (especially
written words): Delete his name from the list of members.
del·e·ter·i·ous /ˌdelɪˈtɪəriəs/ adj fml harmful to the mind
or body; INJURIOUS: the deleterious effects of being exposed to
radiation —ly adv
de·le·tion /dɪˈliːʃən/ n 1 [U] the act of deleting or the state
of being deleted 2 [C] a word, letter etc that has been
deleted
Del·hi /'deli/ a large city in northern India, divided into NEW
DELHI (=the capital of India) and Old Delhi
del·i /'deli/ infml abbrev. for DELICATESSEN
de·lib·er·ate¹ /dɪˈlɪbərət/ adj 1 (especially of something
bad) done on purpose or as a result of careful planning;
intentional: The car crash wasn't an accident; it was a delib-
erate attempt to kill him! | a deliberate insult 2 (of speech,
thought, or movement) slow; unhurried: The old man stood
up in a very deliberate way and left the room. —ly adv: She
deliberately ignored me when I passed her in the street.
—ness n [U]
de·lib·er·ate² /dɪˈlɪbəreɪt/ v [I(on, upon, about);T] fml to con-
sider carefully, often in formal meetings with other people:
The cabinet are still deliberating (the question). | [+wh-] The
committee deliberated whether to approve our proposal.
de·lib·er·a·tion /dɪˌlɪbəˈreɪʃən/ n fml 1 [C often pl.;U] careful
consideration; thorough examination of a matter: After
much deliberation, we found that nothing could be done. | Our
deliberations failed to produce a decision. 2 [U] the quality of
being slow and unhurried in speech, thought, or movement
de·lib·er·a·tive /dɪˈlɪbərətɪv|-bərətɪv/ adj for the purpose
of deliberating: Parliament is a deliberative assembly.
del·i·ca·cy /'delɪkəsi/ n 1 [U] the quality of being deli-
cate 2 [C] something good to eat that is considered rare or
expensive: Caviar is a great delicacy.
del·i·cate /'delɪkət/ adj 1 needing careful handling, espe-
cially because easily broken or damaged; FRAGILE: Be careful
with those wine glasses – they're very delicate. 2 easily made
ill: a very delicate child 3 finely made in a way that shows
great skill: a delicate piece of workmanship 4 needing careful
or sensitive treatment in order to avoid failure or trouble: a
delicate situation/subject | The negotiations are at a very
delicate stage. 5 (of a taste, smell etc) pleasing but not
strong and perhaps not easy to recognize: a delicate flavour/
smell 6 quick to show or feel the effect or presence of
something; sensitive: a delicate instrument that can record
even very slight changes in the temperature → see also
INDELICATE —ly adv
del·i·cates /'delɪkəts/ n [P] clothes which are made from
delicate materials and must be washed gently
del·i·ca·tes·sen /ˌdelɪkə'tesən/ also deli infml — n a shop
that sells unusual and often expensive foods, especially foods
that are cooked and ready to eat. In the US, many delicatess-
ens also sell sandwiches (SANDWICH) and some have tables at
which to eat. Many delicatessens also sell only KOSHER food: I
bought some salami from the delicatessen.
de·li·cious /dɪ'lɪʃəs/ adj 1 pleasing to the senses of taste or
smell: What a delicious apple! | a delicious smell of cooking |
Thank you for a delicious meal, Mrs Atkins. 2 giving great
pleasure or amusement; delightful: a delicious joke —ly adv
—ness n [U]
de·light¹ /dɪ'laɪt/ n 1 [U] great pleasure and satisfaction;
joy: I read your new book with real delight. | She takes
delight in (=enjoys) teasing her sister. 2 [C] something or
someone that gives great pleasure: Your new book/little dog
is a real delight | to savour (=enjoy) the delights of London's
night life → see also TURKISH DELIGHT
delight² v [T] to cause (someone) great satisfaction, enjoy-
ment, or joy: a book that is certain to delight | She delighted
the audience with her jokes about the president.
delight in sthg. phr v [T no pass.] to take great pleasure in
(especially something unpleasant): He delights in scandal. |
[+v-ing] They seem to delight in keeping everyone else waiting.
de·light·ed /dɪ'laɪtɪd/ adj [(by, with)] very pleased or satisfied:
We were delighted by/with the response to our advertisement. |
[F+to-v] Thanks for your invitation—I'd be delighted to come! |
[F (that)] We're delighted that you'll be able to come.
de·light·ful /dɪ'laɪtfl/ adj very pleasing: a delightful
holiday/child/little house —ly adv
De·li·lah /dɪ'lalə/ in the Old Testament of the Bible, a
woman who persuades SAMSON to trust her and tell her what
makes him so strong. When he tells her that it is his hair,
she tricks him into having his hair cut off to make him
weak.
de·lim·it /dɪ'lɪmɪt/ v [T] fml to fix the limits of: to delimit the
powers of various officials —ation /ˌdɪˌlɪmɪ'teɪʃən/ n [U]
de·lin·e·ate /dɪ'lɪniət/ v [T] fml to show by drawing or
describing —ation /dɪˌlɪni'eɪʃən/ n [U]
de·lin·quen·cy /dɪ'lɪŋkwənsi/ n 1 [U] behaviour, especially
by young people, that is not in accordance with accepted
social standards or with the law. Acts of delinquency include
fighting, damaging property, stealing cars for a short time
for pleasure, and writing on walls in public places. 2 [C] fml
an offence against the law or accepted social standards
de·lin·quent¹ /dɪ'lɪŋkwənt/ adj 1 having broken a law,
especially one which is not very serious; having a tendency
to break the law or to do socially unacceptable things:
delinquent youths/behaviour 2 tech (of debts, accounts etc)
not having been paid in time
delinquent² n a person, especially a young person, who is
delinquent: a juvenile (=young) delinquent
de·lir·i·ous /dɪ'lɪəriəs/ adj in an excited dreamy state, espe-
cially caused by illness: During the fever he became delirious
and said some strange things. | delirious with joy —ly adv:
deliriously happy
de·lir·i·um /dɪ'lɪəriəm/ n 1 [C;U] an excited dreamy state in
serious illness 2 [S] a very excited state: a delirium of joy →
see also DELIRIOUS
delirium trem·ens /dɪˌlɪəriəm 'tremənz||-'triː-/ n [U] fml for
the DT's
De·li·us, Fred·er·ick /'diːliəs, 'fredərɪk/ (1862-1934) a Brit-
ish COMPOSER whose best-known works include On Hearing
the First Cuckoo in Spring and the OPERA A Village Romeo and
Juliet
de·liv·er /dɪ'lɪvə/ v 1 [I;T(to)] to take (goods, letters etc) to
people's houses or places of work: Letters are delivered every
day. | Yes, we deliver newspapers. | Will you deliver, or do I
have to come to the shop to collect the goods? 2 [T+obj+prep] to
send or aim (a blow, kick etc) to the intended place: She
delivered a hard kick to his knee. 3 [T] to speak or read aloud
to people listening: to deliver a lecture/a speech 4 [T] a) to
help in the birth of: The doctor delivered her baby. b) to
help in giving birth: The doctor delivered the woman (of twin
boys). 5 [T(from)] fml to set free; RESCUE: They prayed to God to
deliver them from danger. 6 [(on);T] to fulfil (a promise or
hope) or produce (something promised or hoped for): Do
you think the government will deliver on their election
promises/deliver the promised tax cuts? 7 [T] especially AmE to
bring (votes, influence etc) to the support of the politcal
movement, a person trying to get elected etc: The Democrats
are hoping she will deliver the black vote. (=persuade African-
American people, Hispanic people etc to vote for
them) 8 deliver the goods slang to DELIVER → see also stand
and deliver (STAND¹) —er n
deliver sthg. to sbdy. phr v [T(UP) often pass.] to put into
(someone else's) possession: The town was delivered (up) to
the enemy.
de·liv·er·ance /dɪ'lɪvərəns/ n [U(from)] fml the act of saving
from harm or danger, or the state of being saved: deliverance
from slavery
de·liv·er·y /dɪ'lɪvəri/ n 1 [C;U(to)] the act of taking or giving
something to someone, or the things taken or given: The
next postal delivery is at 2 o'clock. | The company has just
taken delivery of (=received) a new computer system. | a
delivery van 2 [C] the birth of a child: The mother had an
easy delivery. 3 [C;U] the manner or style of speaking in