sensitive

sensitive
[[t]se̱nsɪtɪv[/t]]
♦♦♦
1) ADJ-GRADED: oft ADJ to n (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.

Derived words:
sensitively ADV-GRADED usu ADV with v

The abuse of women needs to be treated seriously and sensitively.

sensitivity [[t]se̱nsɪtɪ̱vɪti[/t]] N-UNCOUNT oft N for n

A good relationship involves concern and sensitivity for each other's feelings.

2) ADJ-GRADED: oft ADJ about n 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.

Derived words:
sensitivity plural N-VAR oft N about n

...people who suffer extreme sensitivity about what others think...

They are aware of American political sensitivities about their country's role.

3) ADJ-GRADED 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.

Derived words:
sensitivity N-UNCOUNT oft N of n

Due to the obvious sensitivity of the issue he would not divulge any details.

4) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n Sensitive documents or reports contain information that needs to be kept secret and dealt with carefully.

He instructed staff to shred sensitive documents.

...sensitive information which, in the wrong hands, could jeopardise the safety of British troops.

5) ADJ-GRADED: oft ADJ to n 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.

Derived words:
sensitivity N-UNCOUNT oft N of n

...the sensitivity of cells to damage by chemotherapy.

6) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n A sensitive piece of scientific equipment is capable of measuring or recording very small changes.

...an extremely sensitive microscope.

Derived words:
sensitivity N-UNCOUNT

...the sensitivity of the detector.


English dictionary. 2008.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • sensitive — [ sɑ̃sitiv ] n. f. • 1665; herbe sensitive 1639; de sensitif ♦ Mimosa dont les feuilles se rétractent au contact. ● sensitive nom féminin Nom usuel donné à Mimosa pudica, plante dont les feuilles se replient au moindre contact. ● sensitif,… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • sensitive — sen‧si‧tive [ˈsenstɪv] adjective 1. very easily and quickly affected by changes: • Many economically sensitive companies have closed factories and cut their staff. • We face fierce competition from imports and price sensitive consumers (=… …   Financial and business terms

  • Sensitive — Sen si*tive, a. [F. sensitif. See {Sense}.] 1. Having sense of feeling; possessing or exhibiting the capacity of receiving impressions from external objects; as, a sensitive soul. [1913 Webster] 2. Having quick and acute sensibility, either to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sensitive — Sensitive. s. f. Espece de plante, qu on appelle ainsi, parce qu elle semble avoir du sentiment, & s éloigner de celuy qui la veut toucher. La grande sensitive. la petite sensitive …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • sensitive — [sen′sə tiv] adj. [ME sensitife < MFr sensitif < ML sensitivus < L sensus: see SENSE] 1. of the senses or sensation; esp., connected with the reception or transmission of sense impressions; sensory 2. receiving and responding to stimuli… …   English World dictionary

  • sensitive — c.1400, having the function of sensation, from M.Fr. sensitif (13c.), from M.L. sensitivus capable of sensation, from L. sensus, pp. of sentire feel perceive (see SENSE (Cf. sense)). Meaning easily affected (with ref. to mental feelings) first… …   Etymology dictionary

  • sensitive — [adj1] impressionable acute, cognizant, conscious, delicate, easily affected, emotionable, emotional, feeling, fine, highstrung, hung up*, hypersensitive, impressible, irritable, keen, knowing, nervous, oversensitive, perceiving, perceptive,… …   New thesaurus

  • Sensitīve — (Sinnpflanze), s. Mimosa …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Sensitive — Sensitive, Sinnpflanze, s. Mimosa …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • sensitive — I (discerning) adjective aesthetic, alert, alive to, apperceptive, appercipient, astute, attentive, awake to, aware, cognizant, conscious, critical, discriminating, discriminative, fastidious, heedful, keen, mindful, observant, penetrating,… …   Law dictionary

  • sensitive — 1 susceptible, subject, exposed, open, *liable, prone Analogous words: impressed, influenced, affected (see AFFECT): predisposed, disposed, inclined (see INCLINE vb) Antonyms: insensitive 2 *sentient, impressible, impressionable, responsive,… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

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