Definitions for subtleˈsʌt l

ADVERTISEMENT

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

sub•tleˈsʌt l(adj.)-tler, -tlest.

  1. thin, tenuous, or rarefied, as a fluid or an odor.

  2. fine or delicate in meaning or intent; difficult to perceive or understand:

    subtle irony.

  3. delicate or faint and mysterious:

    a subtle smile.

  4. characterized by or requiring mental acuteness, penetration, or discernment.

  5. cunning, wily, or crafty.

  6. insidious in operation:

    a subtle poison.

  7. skillful, clever, or ingenious.

Origin of subtle:

1250–1300; ME sotil < OF < L subtīlissubtile

sub′tly(adv.)

Princeton's WordNet

  1. elusive, subtle(adj)

    difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze

    "his whole attitude had undergone a subtle change"; "a subtle difference"; "that elusive thing the soul"

  2. subtle(adj)

    able to make fine distinctions

    "a subtle mind"

  3. insidious, pernicious, subtle(adj)

    working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way

    "glaucoma is an insidious disease"; "a subtle poison"

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

  1. subtle(adjective)ˈsʌt l

    affecting sth in a way that is not obvious

    subtle changes in her mood; The transition was subtle.

  2. subtleˈsʌt l

    pleasant and not too strong

    a subtle flavor of ginger

  3. subtleˈsʌt l

    creative and intelligent in a way that is not too obvious

    a subtle argument; His acting was subtle but powerful.; He tried subtly to convince his son.; subtly shaded black-and-white photographs

Wiktionary

  1. subtle(Adjective)

    Hard to grasp; not obvious or easily understood; barely noticeable.

    The difference is subtle, but you can hear it if you listen carefully.

  2. subtle(Adjective)

    Cleverly contrived.

  3. subtle(Adjective)

    Cunning, skillful.

  4. subtle(Adjective)

    insidious

  5. subtle(Adjective)

    Tenuous; rarefied; of low density or thin consistency.

  6. Origin: From sotil, subtil, from soutil, later subtil, subtil, from subtilis; probably, originally, “woven fine”, and from sub + tela, from texere.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Subtle(u)

    sly in design; artful; cunning; insinuating; subtile; -- applied to persons; as, a subtle foe

  2. Subtle(u)

    cunningly devised; crafty; treacherous; as, a subtle stratagem

  3. Subtle(u)

    characterized by refinement and niceness in drawing distinctions; nicely discriminating; -- said of persons; as, a subtle logician; refined; tenuous; sinuous; insinuating; hence, penetrative or pervasive; -- said of the mind; its faculties, or its operations; as, a subtle intellect; a subtle imagination; a subtle process of thought; also, difficult of apprehension; elusive

  4. Subtle(u)

    smooth and deceptive


Translations for subtle

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary

subtle(adjective)

faint or delicate in quality, and therefore difficult to describe or explain

There is a subtle difference between `unnecessary' and `not necessary'; a subtle flavour.

Get even more translations for subtle »


Citation

Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"subtle." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2013. Web. 21 May 2013. <http://www.definitions.net/definition/subtle>.


The Web's Largest Resource for

Definitions & Translations


A Member Of The STANDS4 Network


Nearby & related entries:

Alternative searches for subtle: