Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Sensitive
1.
Having sense of feeling; possessing or exhibiting the capacity of receiving impressions from external objects;
as, a
. sensitive
soul2.
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 rays4.
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 irritationE. 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.
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.