Sĕn'si-tive, a.
a. [Fr. sensitif, Pr. sensitiu, Sp., Pg., & It. sensitivo. See SENSE.]
Sense 1. Having sense or feeling; possessing or exhibiting the capacity of receiving impressions from external objects; as, sensitive soul; sensitive faculty.
Sense 2. Especially, 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.
Sense 3. (a.) (Physics.) Having a capacity of being easily affected or moved; as, a sensitive thermometer. (b.) (Chem. & Photog.) Readily affected or changed by certain appropriate agents; as, iodized silver is extremely sensitive to the action of light; sensitive paper is used for taking photographs. Nichol.
Sense 4. Serving to affect the senses; sensible. [Rare.]
“A love of some sensitive object.” Hammond.
Sense 5. Pertaining to, or depending on, sensation; as, sensitive motions; sensitive muscular motions excited by irritation. Darwin.
Sensitive paper, paper prepared for photographic purposes by being rendered sensitive to the effect of light.—Sensitive plant. (Bot.) (a.) A leguminous plant (Mimosa pudica, or M. 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, and some species allied to the sorrels.