\Sen"si*tive\, a. [F. sensitif. See {Sense}.]
1. Having sense of feeling; possessing or exhibiting the
   capacity of receiving impressions from external objects;
   as, a sensitive soul.
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.