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Webster's New World College Dictionary » sensitively
sensitively
Variant of sensitive
sensitive
definition
sen·si·tive (sen′sə tiv)
adjective
- of the senses or sensation; esp., connected with the reception or transmission of sense impressions; sensory
- receiving and responding to stimuli from outside objects or agencies; having sensation
- responding or feeling readily and acutely; very keenly susceptible to stimuli a sensitive ear
- easily hurt; tender; raw
- having or showing keen sensibilities; highly perceptive or responsive intellectually, aesthetically, etc.
- easily offended, disturbed, shocked, irritated, etc., as by the actions of others; touchy
- changing readily in the presence of some external force or condition; specif.,
- readily affected by light: said of photographic film, etc.
- readily receiving very weak radio signals
- operating readily in weak light, as certain television camera tubes
- designed to indicate or measure small changes or differences
- showing, or liable to show, unusual variation; fluctuating a sensitive stock market
- ☆ designating, of, or dealing with secret or delicate matters, esp. secret or delicate government matters
Etymology: ME sensitife < MFr sensitif < ML sensitivus < L sensus: see sense
noun
medium ()
Related Forms:
- sensitively sen′·si·tively adverb
- sensitiveness sen′·si·tive·ness noun
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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