delicate structure
Intricate, vulnerable form
A delicate structure is something fragile in its construction or arrangement—easily damaged, disrupted, or thrown out of balance.
The phrase appears in contexts ranging from physical objects the delicate structure of a butterfly's wing to abstract systems the delicate structure of international alliances.
It implies that care must be taken to preserve what exists.
- fragileEasily broken or damaged
- paper thinExtremely flimsy or slight
- laceOpen-weave ornamental fabric
- lace curtainDecorative openwork window covering
- filigreeDelicate twisted-wire ornamentation
gossamer · fairy wings · web · lattice · intricate · fine · threadlike · crystalline · ice crystals · tracery · scaffold · framework · coral reef · membrane · veneer · porcelain · blown glass · eggshell