be sensitive to — to be easily affected by or responsive to something
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to be easily affected by or responsive to something
Pronunciation (IPA): /bi ˈsensətɪv tu/
Example Sentences
- My plant is so sensitive to water that it faints when I mention rain.
- Students are sensitive to changes in exam schedules.
- My cat is sensitive to the sound of the can opener from three rooms away.
be sensitive to
VERB[/bi ˈsensətɪv tu/]
to be easily affected by or responsive to something

A nurse is sensitive to the patient's fear before the injection.

The laboratory instrument was sensitive to a single tiny particle. (SENSITIVE = SENSE + ACTIVE)

The alarm was sensitive to smoke, responded immediately, and protected the building from danger.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Sensitive derives from the Latin 'sensus', meaning 'feeling' or 'sensation'. The word evolved to describe the capacity to perceive through the senses and respond to external stimuli with awareness and emotional reactivity.
Breakdown
sens- (to feel, from Latin sensus) + -itive (adjective suffix denoting a quality or tendency). The phrase 'be sensitive to' combines the adjective with the preposition 'to', indicating responsiveness or susceptibility to a particular stimulus or influence.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My plant is so sensitive to water that it faints when I mention rain.”
“Students are sensitive to changes in exam schedules.”
“My cat is sensitive to the sound of the can opener from three rooms away.”
“People with allergies are sensitive to certain foods.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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