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sensitive

Syllabification: (sen·si·tive)
Pronunciation: /ˈsensitiv/
Translate sensitive | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of sensitive

adjective

  • 1quick to detect or respond to slight changes, signals, or influences:the new method of protein detection was more sensitive than earlier ones spiders are sensitive to vibrations on their web
  • easily damaged, injured, or distressed by slight changes:the committee called for improved protection of wildlife in environmentally sensitive areas
  • (of photographic materials) prepared so as to respond rapidly to the action of light.
  • (of a market) unstable and liable to quick changes of price because of outside influences.
  • 2(of a person or a person’s behavior) having or displaying a quick and delicate appreciation of others' feelings:I pay tribute to the Minister for his sensitive handling of the bill
  • easily offended or upset:I suppose I shouldn’t be so sensitive
  • 3kept secret or with restrictions on disclosure to avoid endangering security:he was suspected of passing sensitive information to other countries

noun

  • a person who is believed to respond to occult influences.

Derivatives

sensitively

adverb

sensitiveness

noun

Origin:

late Middle English (in the sense 'sensory'): from Old French sensitif, -ive or medieval Latin sensitivus, formed irregularly from Latin sentire 'feel'. The current senses date from the early 19th century

sensitive in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of sensitive in the British & World English dictionary