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.