sensitive
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++sen·si·tive /ˈsensətɪv/ ●●○ S3 W3 adjective 1 understanding people 理解别人UNDERSTAND able to understand other people’s feelings and problems 善解人意的，体恤的 OPP insensitive a sensitive and intelligent young man 一位善解人意、非常聪明的年轻人sensitive to It’s made me much more sensitive to the needs of the disabled. 它使我更加能够理解残疾人的需要。2 easily offended 容易生气的UPSET easily upset or offended by events or things that people say 敏感的，容易生气的 a very sensitive child 一个很敏感的小孩sensitive about Laura’s sensitive about her weight. 劳拉对自己的体重很敏感。sensitive to Throughout her career she remained very sensitive to criticism. 她在整个职业生涯中一直对批评很敏感。sensitive soul British English (=someone who is easily upset by small or unimportant things) 敏感的人，容易生气的人 → hypersensitive3 easily affected 易受影响的FEEL HOT/COLD/TIRED ETC easily affected or damaged by something such as a substance or temperature 敏感的；易受影响的；过敏的 Wetlands are environmentally sensitive areas. 湿地是容易受环境影响的区域。 a baby’s sensitive skin 婴儿敏感的皮肤sensitive to Older people tend to be very sensitive to cold. 老年人一般对寒冷都很敏感。 Increasing numbers of people are sensitive to cow’s milk. 对牛奶过敏的人越来越多了。4 situation/subject 情况/话题DIFFICULT a situation or subject that is sensitive needs to be dealt with very carefully, because it is secret or because it may offend people 需小心处理的，敏感的，可能触怒人的 Abortion is a very sensitive issue. 堕胎是个非常敏感的话题。 sensitive matters such as national security 国家安全之类的敏感问题 highly sensitive information 高度敏感的情报► see thesaurus at secret5 reacting to changes 对变化的反应 reacting to very small changes in light, temperature, position etc 〔对光、温度、位置等的细微变化〕敏感度高的，灵敏的 a highly sensitive electronic camera 高敏感度的电子摄像机light-sensitive/heat-sensitive etc light-sensitive photographic paper 感光相纸6 art/music etc 艺术/音乐等EXPRESS able to understand or express yourself through art, music, literature etc 〔对艺术、音乐、文学等〕感受力强的，有表现能力的 a very sensitive performance 非常细腻的演出 —sensitively adverb It is an issue which needs to be handled sensitively. 这是个需要小心处理的问题。Examples from the Corpus
sensitive• Tell me if any of these spots are sensitive.• The dark, clean-shaven face was strong and proud, the mouth firm yet sensitive.• My brother pretends he's tough, but he's actually pretty sensitive.• My children are very sensitive about being treated in a patronising way.• I didn't realize that Lee was so sensitive about her family.• He's sensitive about his bad teeth, so try not to look at them.• Some people are just much more sensitive and perceptive in transmitting or receiving data than others.• Joel is such a sensitive boy.• The minister admitted that highly sensitive documents had been leaked to the press.• They would not explode for a rabbit or fox, but were sensitive enough for a human body.• They are fit for any tank and, not being sensitive even to temperature variations, are suitable plants for beginners.• Paul is too sensitive for this job. He can't take even the smallest criticism.• Underneath all that macho stuff, he's really a sensitive guy.• Your competitors may have access to the company intranet, so never discuss commercially sensitive issues on-line.• a sensitive musician• In summary, increasing evidence from many studies has pointed to a sensitive period that is significant to the bonding experience.• The administration claims that the documents contain information of a highly sensitive political nature.• This is a very sensitive recorder - it picks up every word you say.• The team is gathering information on the sensitive subject of child abuse.• I knew we were on sensitive territory.• It is very sensitive to calcium and does not do well in alkaline or hard water.• If you are a public figure you can't afford to be too sensitive to criticism.• A teenager used his personal computer to break into sensitive US Air Force files.• When it comes to broaching the subject I don't think there's any sensitive way to do it.sensitive to• My teeth are really sensitive to hot and cold.• Nurses have to be sensitive to patients' needs.sensitive about• As a young man he was very sensitive about his gawky looks.highly sensitive• The market is also highly sensitive because trading volumes are running close to 10-year lows.• Unlike the highly sensitive child, the defiant child has some physical characteristics that make a more aggressive approach possible.• Parents can help such highly sensitive children by showing them how to soothe themselves.• Managers need to handle highly sensitive direct contacts with clients.• In the Navy, Whitworth had access to highly sensitive information.• It can not be stressed too heavily that taking tissue samples was a highly sensitive matter.• They are consequently highly sensitive to any occurrence that might offend against this principle.• He seems highly sensitive to criticism in the press.• Infants are highly sensitive to the quality of adult attention.highly sensitive• The market is also highly sensitive because trading volumes are running close to 10-year lows.• Unlike the highly sensitive child, the defiant child has some physical characteristics that make a more aggressive approach possible.• Parents can help such highly sensitive children by showing them how to soothe themselves.• Managers need to handle highly sensitive direct contacts with clients.• It can not be stressed too heavily that taking tissue samples was a highly sensitive matter.• They are consequently highly sensitive to any occurrence that might offend against this principle.• He seems highly sensitive to criticism in the press.• Infants are highly sensitive to the quality of adult attention.From Longman Business Dictionarysensitivesen‧si‧tive /ˈsensətɪv/ adjective1very easily and quickly affected by changesMany economically sensitive companies have closed factories and cut their staff.We face fierce competition from imports and price-sensitive consumers (=customers who are likely to buy a product if the price goes down, and not buy it if the price rises).sensitive toA fall in bond prices discouraged investors from buying stocks that aresensitive to interest rates.2something that is sensitive is kept secret because it might be used to gain an advantageDuring the trial, the company argued that the documents containedsensitive trade secrets and should be kept confidential.Modern telecommunications technology means there is a greater risk thatsensitive information will be misused or stolen.3able to understand other people’s needs or particular problems etcLocal authorities will have to become morecustomer sensitive.Waste must be disposed of in an environmentally sensitive way.sensitive toWe’re sensitive to consumers’ needs and opinions.Origin sensitive (1300-1400) Old French sensitif, from Medieval Latin sensitivus, from Latin sensus; → SENSE1sen·si·tive adjectiveChineseSyllable
Corpus other able and understand feelings Business to problems people’s
sensitive
sen‧si‧tive S3 W3 /ˈsensətɪv, ˈsensɪtɪv/
adjective
OPP insensitive:
a sensitive and intelligent young man
sensitive to
It’s made me much more sensitive to the needs of the disabled.
2. EASILY OFFENDED easily upset or offended by events or things that people say:
a very sensitive child
sensitive about
Laura’s sensitive about her weight.
sensitive to
Throughout her career she remained very sensitive to criticism.
sensitive soul British English (=someone who is easily upset by small or unimportant things) ⇨ hypersensitive
3. EASILY AFFECTED easily affected or damaged by something such as a substance or temperature:
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.
4. SITUATION/SUBJECT 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
highly sensitive information
5. REACTING TO CHANGES reacting to very small changes in light, temperature, position etc:
a highly sensitive electronic camera
light-sensitive/heat-sensitive etc
light-sensitive photographic paper
6. ART/MUSIC ETC able to understand or express yourself through art, music, literature etc:
a very sensitive performance
—sensitively adverb:
It is an issue which needs to be handled sensitively.
▪ secret known about by only a few people, who have agreed not to tell anyone else: a secret meeting place | The details of the proposal must remain secret.
▪confidential used about information, especially in business or government, that is secret and not intended to be shown or told to other people: a highly confidential report | Employees’ personal details are treated as strictly confidential.
▪classified used about information that the government has ordered to be kept secret from most people: He was accused of passing on classified information to the Russians in the 1950s.
▪sensitive used about information that is kept secret because there would be problems if the wrong people knew it: A teenager managed to hack into sensitive US Air Force files.
▪covert [only before noun] used about things that are done secretly, especially by a government or official organization: a CIA covert operation
▪undercover [usually before noun] used about things that are done secretly by the police in order to catch criminals or find out information: Detectives arrested the suspect after a five-day undercover operation.
▪underground an underground organization or newspaper is one that operates or is produced secretly and opposes the government: Her father was a member of the underground resistance movement in France during World War II.
▪clandestine /klænˈdestən, klænˈdestɪn/ secret and often illegal or immoral: clandestine meetings | his involvement in a clandestine operation to sell arms to Iran | a clandestine love affair
▪hush-hush informal used about information or activities that are kept officially secret: He was put in charge of some hush-hush military project. | I’ve no idea what he does – it’s all very hush-hush.
sen‧si‧tive S3 W3 /ˈsensətɪv, ˈsensɪtɪv/
adjective Word Family: adjective: sensible, insensible, senseless, sensitive ≠ insensitive, sensory, nonsensical, insensate; noun: sense ≠ nonsense, sensibility ≠ insensibility, sensitivity ≠ insensitivity, senselessness, sensitization, sensor; adverb: sensibly, senselessly, sensitively ≠ insensitively; verb: sense, sensitize
Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: sensitif, from Medieval Latin sensitivus, from Latin sensus; ⇨ sense1
1. UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE able to understand other people’s feelings and problems Language: Old French
Origin: sensitif, from Medieval Latin sensitivus, from Latin sensus; ⇨ sense1
OPP insensitive:
sensitive to
2. EASILY OFFENDED easily upset or offended by events or things that people say:
sensitive about
sensitive to
sensitive soul British English (=someone who is easily upset by small or unimportant things) ⇨ hypersensitive
3. EASILY AFFECTED easily affected or damaged by something such as a substance or temperature:
sensitive to
4. SITUATION/SUBJECT a situation or subject that is sensitive needs to be dealt with very carefully, because it is secret or because it may offend people:
5. REACTING TO CHANGES reacting to very small changes in light, temperature, position etc:
light-sensitive/heat-sensitive etc
6. ART/MUSIC ETC able to understand or express yourself through art, music, literature etc:
—sensitively adverb:
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Sensible refers to your ability to make good judgements.* sensible 涉及判断 ：◆ She gave me some very sensible advice. 她给了我一些非常合理的建议。 ◆ It wasn't very sensible to go out on your own so late at night. 这么晚一个人单独外出是不太明智的。 Sensitive refers to how easily you react to things and how much you are aware of things or other people.* sensitive 涉及反应和洞察力 ：◆ a soap for sensitive skin 敏感皮肤用的肥皂 ◆ This movie may upset a sensitive child. 这部影片可能使敏感的孩子感到难过。
