 |
| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | sensitif, from Medieval Latin sensitivus, from Latin sensus; SENSE1 |
| |||||||||
sen‧si‧tive S3 W3
1 able to understand other people's feelings and problems [≠ insensitive]: 
a sensitive and intelligent young man
understanding people
a sensitive and intelligent young man2 easily upset or offended by events or things that people say : a very sensitive child
easily offended
a very sensitive child sensitive to Throughout her career she remained very sensitive to criticism.
➔ hypersensitiveThroughout her career she remained very sensitive to criticism.3 easily affected or damaged by something such as a substance or temperature : Wetlands are environmentally sensitive areas. a baby's sensitive skin
easily affected
Wetlands are environmentally sensitive areas.a baby's sensitive skin sensitive to Older people tend to be very sensitive to cold. Increasing numbers of people are sensitive to cow's milk.
Older people tend to be very sensitive to cold.Increasing numbers of people are sensitive to cow's milk.4 a situation or subject that is sensitive needs to be dealt with very carefully, because it is secret or because it may offend people : Abortion is a very sensitive issue. sensitive matters such as national security
situation/subject
Abortion is a very sensitive issue.sensitive matters such as national security5 reacting to very small changes in light, temperature, position etc : a highly sensitive electronic camera
reacting to changes
a highly sensitive electronic camera6 able to understand or express yourself through art, music, literature etc : a very sensitive performance
art/music etc
a very sensitive performance —sensitively adverb: It is an issue which needs to be handled sensitively.
WORD FOCUS: difficult It is an issue which needs to be handled sensitively.WORD FOCUS: difficult difficult to do: hard, tough, challenging, daunting
difficult and needing a lot of physical effort: tough, strenuous, back-breaking, gruelling, arduous, punishing
difficult to deal with or talk about: tricky, awkward, delicate, sensitive, touchy
words for describing a difficult person: awkward, trying
words for describing difficult conditions: adverse, hostile
➔ See also difficult
