2 ADJ Sensible people behave in a sensible way. □ She was a sensible girl and did not panic. □ [+ about ] Oh come on, let's be sensible about this.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Sensible shoes or clothes are practical and strong rather than fashionable and attractive. □ Wear loose clothing and sensible footwear. ● sen|sibly ADV [ADV after v, ADV -ed] □ They were not sensibly dressed.
sen|si|tive ◆◇◇ /se ns I t I v/
1 ADJ If you are sensitive to other people's needs, problems, or feelings, you show understanding and awareness of them. [APPROVAL ] □ [+ to ] The classroom teacher must be sensitive to a child's needs. □ He was always so sensitive and caring. ● sen|si|tive|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ The abuse of women needs to be treated seriously and sensitively. ● sen|si|tiv|ity /se ns I t I v I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ for ] A good relationship involves concern and sensitivity for each other's feelings.
2 ADJ If you are sensitive about something, you are easily worried and offended when people talk about it. □ [+ about ] Young people are very sensitive about their appearance. □ Take it easy. Don't be so sensitive. ● sen|si|tiv|ity (sensitivities ) N‑VAR □ [+ about ] …people who suffer extreme sensitivity about what others think.
3 ADJ A sensitive subject or issue needs to be dealt with carefully because it is likely to cause disagreement or make people angry or upset. □ Employment is a very sensitive issue. □ …politically sensitive matters. ● sen|si|tiv|ity N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] Due to the obvious sensitivity of the issue he would not divulge any details.
4 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Sensitive documents or reports contain information that needs to be kept secret and dealt with carefully. □ He instructed staff to shred sensitive documents.
5 ADJ Something that is sensitive to a physical force, substance, or treatment is easily affected by it and often harmed by it. □ [+ to ] …a chemical which is sensitive to light. □ …gentle cosmetics for sensitive skin. ● sen|si|tiv|ity N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of/to ] …the sensitivity of cells to damage by chemotherapy.
6 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A sensitive piece of scientific equipment is capable of measuring or recording very small changes. □ …an extremely sensitive microscope. ● sen|si|tiv|ity N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the sensitivity of the detector.
sen|si|tize /se ns I ta I z/ (sensitizes , sensitizing , sensitized ) in BRIT, also use sensitise 1 VERB If you sensitize people to a particular problem or situation, you make them aware of it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n + to ] It seems important to sensitize people to the fact that depression is more than the blues. □ [be V -ed] How many judges in our male-dominated courts are sensitized to women's issues? [Also V n]
2 VERB [usu passive] If a substance is sensitized to something such as light or touch, it is made sensitive to it. □ [be V -ed] Skin is easily irritated, chapped, chafed, and sensitized. □ [V -ed] …sensitised nerve endings.
sen|sor /se nsə r / (sensors ) N‑COUNT A sensor is an instrument which reacts to certain physical conditions or impressions such as heat or light, and which is used to provide information. □ The latest Japanese vacuum cleaners contain sensors that detect the amount of dust and type of floor.
sen|so|ry /se nsəri/ ADJ [ADJ n] Sensory means relating to the physical senses. [FORMAL ] □ …sensory information passing through the spinal cord.
sen|sual /se nʃuəl/
1 ADJ Someone or something that is sensual shows or suggests a great liking for physical pleasures, especially sexual pleasures. □ He was a very sensual person. □ …a wide, sensual mouth. ● sen|su|al|ity /se nʃuæ l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ The wave and curl of her blonde hair gave her sensuality and youth.
2 ADJ Something that is sensual gives pleasure to your physical senses rather than to your mind. □ …sensual dance rhythms. ● sen|su|al|ity N‑UNCOUNT □ These perfumes have warmth and sensuality.
sen|su|ous /se nʃuəs/
1 ADJ Something that is sensuous gives pleasure to the mind or body through the senses. □ The film is ravishing to look at and boasts a sensuous musical score. ● sen|su|ous|ly ADV [ADV adj, ADV with v] □ She lay in the deep bath for a long time, enjoying its sensuously perfumed water.
2 ADJ Someone or something that is sensuous shows or suggests a great liking for sexual pleasure. □ …his sensuous young mistress, Marie-Therese. ● sen|su|ous|ly ADV [ADV adj, ADV with v] □ The nose was straight, the mouth sensuously wide and full.
sent /se nt/ Sent is the past tense and past participle of send .
sen|tence ◆◆◇ /se ntəns/ (sentences , sentencing , sentenced )
1 N‑COUNT A sentence is a group of words which, when they are written down, begin with a capital letter and end with a full stop, question mark, or exclamation mark. Most sentences contain a subject and a verb.
2 N‑VAR In a law court, a sentence is the punishment that a person receives after they have been found guilty of a crime. □ They are already serving prison sentences for their part in the assassination. □ He was given a four-year sentence. □ The offences carry a maximum sentence of 10 years. □ …demands for tougher sentences. □ The court is expected to pass sentence later today.