to people's feelings
1 ~ (to sth) aware of and able to understand other people and their feelings:
a sensitive and caring man * She is very sensitive to other people's feelings.
OPPINSENSITIVE
to art / music / literature
2 able to understand art, music and literature and to express yourself through them:
an actor's sensitive reading of the poem * a sensitive musician / poet * a sensitive portrait
easily upset
3 ~ (about / to sth) easily offended or upset:
You're far too sensitive. * He's very sensitive about his weight. * She's very sensitive to criticism.
OPPINSENSITIVE
information / subject
4 that you have to treat with great care because it may offend people or make them angry:
Health care is a politically sensitive issue. * That's a sensitive area.
to cold / light / food, etc.
5 ~ (to sth) reacting quickly or more than usual to sth:
sensitive areas of the body * My teeth are very sensitive to cold food. * The eyes of some fish are acutely sensitive to light.
OPPINSENSITIVE
to small changes
6 ~ (to sth) able to measure very small changes:
a sensitive barometer / instrument * The eyes can be a sensitive indicator of health. * (figurative) The Stock Exchange is very sensitive to political change.
OPPINSENSITIVE
sensitively adverb:
She handled the matter sensitively and effectively. * He writes sensitively.
IDIOMS see NERVEn.
