Etymology : Middle English, from Middle French sensitif, from Medieval Latin sensitivus, probably alteration of sensativus, from sensatus sensate
Pronunciation : sen(t)-s&-tiv, sen(t)s-t&a
Function : adjective
Date : 15th century
1. able to perceive sensation, having the capacity for feeling; susceptible to external influences or agents; responsive, reactive; delicate, requiring special care or treatment, touchy; responding acutely to emotional stimuli, temperamental. sensitive\sen"si*tive\ , a. [f. sensitif. see:
sense.].
2. having sense of feeling; possessing or exhibiting the capacity of receiving impressions from external objects; as, a sensitive soul.
3. having quick and acute sensibility, either to the action of external objects, or to impressions upon the mind and feelings; highly susceptible; easily and acutely affected. she was too sensitive to abuse and calumny.
4. (a) (mech.) having a capacity of being easily affected or moved; as, a sensitive thermometer; sensitive scales. (b) (chem. & photog.) readily affected or changed by certain appropriate agents; as, silver chloride or bromide, when in contact with certain organic substances, is extremely sensitive to actinic rays.
5. serving to affect the sense; sensible. [r.] a sensitive love of some sensitive objects.
6. of or pertaining to sensation; depending on sensation; as, sensitive motions; sensitive muscular motions excited by irritation. darwin.sensitive fern (bot.), an american fern (onoclea sensibilis), the leaves of which, when plucked, show a slight tendency to fold together.sensitive flame (physics), a gas flame so arranged that under a suitable adjustment of pressure it is exceedingly sensitive to sounds, being caused to roar, flare, or become suddenly shortened or extinguished, by slight sounds of the proper pitch.sensitive joint vetch (bot.), an annual leguminous herb (?schynomene hispida), with sensitive foliage.sensitive paper, paper prepared for photographic purpose by being rendered sensitive to the effect of light.sensitive plant. (bot.) (a) a leguminous plant (mimosa pudica, or m. sensitiva, and other allied species), the leaves of which close at the slightest touch. (b) any plant showing motions after irritation, as the sensitive brier (schrankia) of the southern states, two common american species of cassia (c. nictitans, and c. cham?crista), a kind of sorrel (oxalis sensitiva), etc. -- sen"si*tive*ly (#), adv. -- sen"si*tive*ness , n.sensitive adj.
7. responsive to physical stimuli; "a mimosa's leaves are sensitive to touch"; "a sensitive voltmeter"; "sensitive skin"; "sensitive to light" [ant: insensitive].
8. having acute mental or emotional sensibility; "sensitive to the local community and its needs" [ant: insensitive].
9. able to feel or perceive; "even amoeba are sensible creatures"; "the more sensible parts of the skin" [syn: sensible] [ant: insensible].
10. hurting; "the tender spot on his jaw" [syn: sore, tender].
11. used officially of classified information or matters affecting national security.
12. Having sense of feeling; possessing or exhibiting the capacity of receiving impressions from external objects; as, a sensitive soul.
13. Having quick and acute sensibility, either to the action of external objects, or to impressions upon the mind and feelings; highly susceptible; easily and acutely affected.
14. Having a capacity of being easily affected or moved; as, a sensitive thermometer; sensitive scales.
15. Readily affected or changed by certain appropriate agents; as, silver chloride or bromide, when in contact with certain organic substances, is extremely sensitive to actinic rays.
16. Serving to affect the sense; sensible.
17. Of or pertaining to sensation; depending on sensation; as, sensitive motions; sensitive muscular motions excited by irritation. used officially of classified information or matters affecting national security hurting; "the tender spot on his jaw" responsive to physical stimuli; "a mimosa's leaves are sensitive to touch"; "a sensitive voltmeter"; "sensitive skin"; "sensitive to light" having acute mental or emotional sensibility; "sensitive to the local community and its needs".
18. 1. approval If you are sensitive to other people's needs, problems, or feelings, you show understanding and awareness of them. The classroom teacher must be sensitive to a child's needs He was always so sensitive and caring. + sensitively sen·si·tive·ly The abuse of women needs to be treated seriously and sensitively. + sensitivity sen·si·tiv·ity A good relationship involves concern and sensitivity for each other's feelings.
19. If you are sensitive about something, you are easily worried and offended when people talk about it. Young people are very sensitive about their appearance Take it easy. Don't be so sensitive. + sensitivity sensitivities sen·si·tiv·ity people who suffer extreme sensitivity about what others think.
20. A sensitive subject or issue needs to be dealt with carefully because it is likely to cause disagreement or make people angry or upset. Employment is a very sensitive issue. politically sensitive matters. + sensitivity sen·si·tiv·ity Due to the obvious sensitivity of the issue he would not divulge any details.
21. Sensitive documents or reports contain information that needs to be kept secret and dealt with carefully. He instructed staff to shred sensitive documents.
22. Something that is sensitive to a physical force, substance, or treatment is easily affected by it and often harmed by it. a chemical which is sensitive to light. gentle cosmetics for sensitive skin. + sensitivity sen·si·tiv·ity the sensitivity of cells to damage by chemotherapy.
23. A sensitive piece of scientific equipment is capable of measuring or recording very small changes. an extremely sensitive microscope. + sensitivity sen·si·tiv·ity the sensitivity of the detector.
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