{
    "term": "subtle",
    "partOfSpeech": "adjective",
    "ox5000": true,
    "cefr": "c1",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "not very obvious or easy to notice",
            "labels": "(often approving)",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "**subtle colours/flavours/smells, etc.**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "There are **subtle differences** between the two versions."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The fragrance is a subtle blend of jasmine and sandalwood."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She's been dropping subtle hints about what she'd like as a present."
                },
                {
                    "text": "For a natural glow to your skin mix a subtle shade of blusher with loose powder."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her paintings are characterized by sweeping brush strokes and subtle colours."
                },
                {
                    "text": "making infinitely subtle distinctions"
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Colours and Shapes"],
            "collocations": {
                "verbs": ["be", "seem", "become"],
                "adverb": ["extremely", "fairly", "very"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "behaving or organized in a clever way, and using indirect methods, in order to achieve something",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I decided to try a more subtle approach."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a subtle plan"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a subtle use of lighting in the play"
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "verbs": ["be", "seem", "become"],
                "adverb": ["extremely", "fairly", "very"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "good at noticing and understanding things",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The job required a subtle mind."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈsʌtl/",
                "audio": "su/subtle/subtle__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈsʌtələ(r)/",
                "audio": "su/subtle/subtler__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈsʌtəlɪst/",
                "audio": "su/subtle/subtlest__gb_2.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈsʌtl/",
                "audio": "su/subtle/subtle__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈsʌtələr/",
                "audio": "su/subtle/subtler__us_2.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈsʌtəlɪst/",
                "audio": "su/subtle/subtlist__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Middle English (also in the sense ‘not easily understood’): from Old French sotil, from Latin subtilis."
}