Sensitive Highly Easily B Adv Capable Feelings C

sen·si·tive

I

\\ˈsen(t)-sə-tiv, ˈsen(t)s-təv\\ adjective1.

sensory

2
2.
  a. receptive to sense impressions
  b. capable of being stimulated or excited by external agents (as light, gravity, or contact)
      sensitive cells
3. highly responsive or susceptible: as
  a.
    (1) easily hurt or damaged; especially : easily hurt emotionally
    (2) delicately aware of the attitudes and feelings of others
  b. excessively or abnormally susceptible :

hypersensitive

      sensitive to egg protein
  c. readily fluctuating in price or demand
      sensitive commodities
  d. capable of indicating minute differences :

delicate

      sensitive scales
  e. readily affected or changed by various agents (as light or mechanical shock)
      a photographic emulsion sensitive to red light
  f. highly radiosensitive
4.
  a. concerned with highly classified government information or involving discretionary authority over important policy matters
      sensitive documents
  b. calling for tact, care, or caution in treatment :

touchy

      a sensitive issue like race relations
5. having or showing concern for a specified matter — usually used in combination
    a price-sensitive customer
    environmentally sensitive policies
Synonyms: see
• sen·si·tive·ly adverb
• sen·si·tive·ness noun

II

noun1. a person having occult or psychical abilities
2. a sensitive person

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). Meaning "easily affected" (with ref. to mental feelings) first recorded 1816; meaning "having intense physical sensation" is from 1849. Original meaning is preserved in sensitive plant (1633). Meaning "involving national security" is recorded from 1953. Sensitivity training is first attested 1954. Sensitize first recorded 1856, originally in photography; of persons from 1880.

☞ sensitive
sen·si·tive / 5sensEtiv / adjectiveTO PEOPLE'S FEELINGS 对他人的感情
1. ~ (to sth) aware of and able to understand other people and their feelings
   体贴的；体恤的；善解人意的:
   a sensitive and caring man
   体贴的男人
   She is very sensitive to other people's feelings.
   她很能体谅他人的感情。
   OPP 

insensitive

TO ART / MUSIC / LITERATURE 对艺术/音乐/文学
2. able to understand art, music and literature and to express yourself through them
   感觉敏锐的；艺术感觉好的；有悟性的:
   an actor's sensitive reading of the poem
   演员对那首诗富有表现力的朗诵
   a sensitive portrait
   栩栩如生的画像
EASILY UPSET 容易生气
3. ~ (about / to sth) easily offended or upset
   易生气的；易被惹恼的；神经过敏的:
   You're far too sensitive.
   你也太敏感了。
   He's very sensitive about his weight.
   他很忌讳别人说他胖。
   She's very sensitive to criticism.
   她一听批评就急。
   OPP 

insensitive

INFORMATION / SUBJECT 信息；话题
4. that you have to treat with great care because it may offend people or make them angry
   须谨慎对待的；敏感的:
   Health care is a politically sensitive issue.
   医疗衞生是政界的一个敏感问题。
TO COLD / LIGHT / FOOD, ETC. 对低温、光、食物等
5. ~ (to sth) reacting quickly or more than usual to sth
   敏感的；过敏的:
   sensitive areas of the body
   身体的敏感区
   My teeth are very sensitive to cold food.
   我的牙齿对冷食过敏。
   OPP 

insensitive

TO SMALL CHANGES 对细微变化
6. ~ (to sth) able to measure very small changes
   灵敏的:
   a sensitive instrument
   灵敏的仪器
  (figurative) The Stock Exchange is very sensitive to political change.
   证券市场对政局变化非常敏感。
   OPP 

insensitive

• sen·si·tive·ly adv.:
   She handled the matter sensitively.
   她谨慎细致地处理了那件事情。
   He writes sensitively.
   他文笔细腻。
 IDIOMS 
⇨ see

nerve

n.

sensitive adj.

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sen·si·tive
I. \ˈsen(t)səd.iv, -n(t)s(ə)tiv also -n(t)stəv\ adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French sensitif, from Medieval Latin sensitivus, of sensation, receiving sense impressions, irregular (influenced by Late Latin intellectivus intellective) from sensus, past participle of sentire to feel, perceive — more at
1. : conveying or receiving sense impressions
 < sensitive nerves >
2.
 a. obsolete : serving to affect the senses : functioning as a sensory stimulus
 b. : experienced by means of the senses :
  < a sensitive pleasure >
  < sensitive experience >
3.
 a. : possessing a capacity for sensation or feeling : receptive to external stimuli
 b. obsolete : having capacity to react to stimuli but lacking power to reason
 c. : capable of being stimulated or excited by external agents (as light, gravity, contact) functioning as stimuli
  < sensitive protoplasm >
  < sensitive cells >
 d. : exhibiting irritomotility
  < a sensitive compound leaf >
4. : 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
 < was too sensitive to abuse and calumny — T.B.Macaulay >
as
 a. : peculiarly or excessively susceptible to the action or effect of a usually specified factor (as drought, drugs, hypnotism) : — usually used with to
  < sensitive to moisture >
  < sensitive to allergenic pollens >
 b. : fluctuating or liable to fluctuation; especially : subject to unusual or excessive fluctuations in price and demand
  < a sensitive security >
  < a sensitive market >
 c. : abnormally susceptible often because of a specific sensitization
  < sensitive to eggs >
 d. : having a capacity of being easily affected or moved : capable of indicating minute differences :
  < a sensitive thermometer >
  < sensitive weighing scales >
 e. : readily affected or changed by various agents
  < photographic paper is sensitive to actinic rays >
  < a sensitive explosive is easily exploded by a shock >
  < a sensitive colloid is readily coagulated >
  — compare
 f. : having a higher octane number when tested at specified slower speeds than when tested at specified higher speeds
  < sensitive gasolines >
 g. : high in radiosensitivity
5. : of or relating to sensation and the senses :
6. : indicating by a relatively large angular change any slight movement of the observer toward or away from its center — used especially in nautical surveying and of a circle passing through two fixed objects and the observer's station so that the angle subtended by the chord joins the objects
7. of a tree or forest : marked by unevenness and irregularity in the growth of annual rings that is associated with variations in growing conditions in different years — opposed to complacent
8. : concerned with or held vital to the national security by reason of dealing with highly restricted information and materials : demanding or intended to be treated with a high degree of discretion and unquestioned loyalty
Synonyms: see
II. noun
(-s)
1. obsolete : an individual capable of sensory perception
2. : a person having or reputed to have occult or supernormal abilities (as for crystal gazing, clairvoyance, clairaudience, telepathy)
3. : a sensitive person
III. adjective
: having or showing concern for a specified matter — usually used in combination

 < customers are price-sensitive — C.J.Balcer >