Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Sensitive

Sen′si-tive

,
Adj.
[F.
sensitif
. See
Sense
.]
1.
Having sense of feeling; possessing or exhibiting the capacity of receiving impressions from external objects;
as, a
sensitive
soul
.
2.
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.
Macaulay.
3.
(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
.
4.
Serving to affect the sense; sensible.
[R.]
A sensitive love of some
sensitive
objects.
Hammond.
5.
Of or pertaining to sensation; depending on sensation;
as,
sensitive
motions;
sensitive
muscular motions excited by irritation
.
E. 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 (
Aeschynomene 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
Mimosa 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
(
Cassia nictitans
, and
Cassia Chamaecrista
), a kind of sorrel (
Oxalis sensitiva
), etc.
Sen′si-tive-ly
(#)
,
adv.
Sen′si-tive-ness
,
Noun.

Webster 1828 Edition


Sensitive

SENS'ITIVE

,
Adj.
[L. sensitivus, from sensus, sentio.]
1. Having sense or feeling, or having the capacity of perceiving impressions from external objects; as sensitive soul; sensitive appetite; sensitive faculty.
2. That affects the senses; as sensitive objects.
3. Pertaining to the senses, or to sensation; depending on sensation; as sensitive motions; sensitive muscular motions excited by irritation.

Definition 2024


sensitive

sensitive

English

Adjective

sensitive (comparative more sensitive, superlative most sensitive)

  1. Having the faculty of sensation; pertaining to the senses.
  2. Responsive to stimuli.
  3. (of a person) Easily offended, upset or hurt.
    Max is very sensitive; he cried today because of the bad news.
  4. (of an issue, topic, etc.) Capable of offending, upsetting or hurting.
    Religion is often a sensitive topic of discussion and should be avoided when dealing with foreign business associates.
  5. (of an instrument) Accurate.

Derived terms

Related terms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Translations

Noun

sensitive (plural sensitives)

  1. One with a paranormal sensitivity to something that most cannot perceive.
    • 2003, Frederic W.H. Myers, Human Personality and Its Survival of Bodily Death Part 2
      Swedenborg was one of the leading savants of Europe; it would be absurd to place any of our sensitives on the same intellectual level.

French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /sɑ̃.si.tiv/

Adjective

sensitive

  1. feminine singular of sensitif

Noun

sensitive f (plural sensitives)

  1. sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica)

Anagrams


Italian

Adjective

sensitive

  1. feminine plural of sensitivo

Anagrams


Latin

Adjective

sensitive

  1. vocative masculine singular of sensitivus

Norwegian Bokmål

Adjective

sensitive

  1. definite singular of sensitiv
  2. plural form of sensitiv

Norwegian Nynorsk

Adjective

sensitive

  1. definite singular of sensitiv
  2. plural form of sensitiv