a.

1. 微妙的，難捉摸的，不可思議的
   She smiled a subtle smile.

   她神祕地笑了笑。

2. 纖細的；微微的；隱約的
   I noticed a subtle change in his attitude.

   我注意到他的態度發生了微妙的變化。

3. 精巧的，精湛的；精良的
   Jimmy was a subtle worker in gold and silver.

   吉米是一個技藝精湛的金銀匠。

4. 狡猾的；詭祕的
   This enabled us to see through their subtle scheme.

   這使我們得以識破他們的詭計。

5. 不知不覺中起作用的
   a subtle poison

   慢性毒藥

6. 細心的，敏銳的
   The novelist has a subtle insight into human nature.

   那位小說家對人性具有敏銳的洞察力。

adj.

1. so delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyse or describe:
   a subtle distinction.
   ▸capable of making fine distinctions.
   ▸delicately complex and understated:

   subtle lighting.
2. making use of clever and indirect methods to achieve something.
3. archaic crafty; cunning.