exquisite
ihk-SKWIH-ziht
Exquisite (adjective) means Extremely beautiful, delicate, or finely made. Example: “The necklace was an exquisite piece of craftsmanship.”
adjective
1
Extremely beautiful, delicate, or finely made.
"The necklace was an exquisite piece of craftsmanship."
"They served an exquisite three-course meal."
2
Intensely felt, especially of pain or pleasure.
"She felt an exquisite sense of relief when the exam finally ended."
How to use exquisite
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSo finely made or so intensely felt that it stands out as exceptional.
Common pairings
exquisite detail
exquisite taste
exquisite pain
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Word forms
- Plural
- exquisites
- Comparative
- more exquisite
- Superlative
- most exquisite
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The necklace was an _____ piece of craftsmanship.
Etymology
From Latin exquīsītus, "sought out" — the past participle of exquīrere, "to search out carefully".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for exquisite
See all rhymes for exquisite →Frequently asked questions
What does “exquisite” mean?
The word “exquisite” means extremely beautiful, delicate, or finely made. In plain terms, so finely made or so intensely felt that it stands out as exceptional.
How do you pronounce “exquisite”?
“Exquisite” is pronounced ihk-SKWIH-ziht (/ɪkˈskwɪzɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “exquisite” in a sentence?
Here is “exquisite” used in a sentence: “The necklace was an exquisite piece of craftsmanship.”
What is another word for “exquisite”?
Words with a similar meaning to “exquisite” include beautiful, delicate, discriminating and perfect.
What part of speech is “exquisite”?
“Exquisite” is an adjective.
Where does the word “exquisite” come from?
The word “exquisite” comes from Latin. From Latin exquīsītus, "sought out" — the past participle of exquīrere, "to search out carefully".
Is “exquisite” a common word?
“Exquisite” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “exquisite” have?
“Exquisite” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: extremely beautiful, delicate, or finely made.
What is the difference between exquisite and beautiful?
Exquisite describes something extremely beautiful, delicate, or finely made, implying a high level of craftsmanship or refinement, such as exquisite lace or an exquisite painting. Beautiful is a more general term for anything pleasing to look at, without necessarily implying delicacy or fine detail.
What does exquisite mean when describing pain or pleasure?
When used to describe sensations, exquisite means intensely felt, as in exquisite pain or exquisite pleasure, emphasising the sharpness or intensity of the feeling rather than beauty. This sense is common in literary or medical descriptions of especially acute sensations.
What are common collocations with exquisite?
Exquisite frequently appears with nouns like detail, craftsmanship, taste, and beauty, as in exquisite attention to detail or exquisite taste in design. It is also paired with sensation words such as exquisite pain to describe an intensely felt experience.
