Sensitive \Sen"si*tive\, a. [F. sensitif. See Sense.]
1. Having sense of feeling; possessing or exhibiting the
capacity of receiving impressions from external objects;
as, a sensitive soul.
2. 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 rays.
4. 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
irritation. --E. 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
([AE]schynomene 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 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,
two common American species of Cassia (C. nictitans,
and C. Cham[ae]crista), a kind of sorrel (Oxalis
sensitiva), etc.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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