This theory does not reduce reality to what can be sensed.
Son estomac est sensible aux aliments épicés.
His stomach is sensitive to spicy food.
Il paraît réservé, mais il est profondément sensible.
He seems reserved, but he is deeply sensitive.
Une balance sensible mesure de très faibles masses.
A sensitive scale measures very small masses.
Une baisse sensible des prix est attendue.
A noticeable fall in prices is expected.
Similar words
perceptible
important
délicat
délicat
compatissant
touché
manifeste
appréciable
épineux
réactif
Meanings
Able to feel or react
adjective
physical
neutral
Able to receive physical sensations or to be affected by a stimulus.
Examples
La peau du visage est très sensible au froid.
The skin on the face is very sensitive to cold.
Cette dent reste sensible après le soin.
This tooth remains sensitive after the treatment.
Certaines plantes sont sensibles à la lumière.
Some plants are responsive to light.
Son estomac est sensible aux aliments épicés.
His stomach is sensitive to spicy food.
La zone blessée est encore sensible au toucher.
The injured area is still tender to the touch.
Similar words
réceptif
réactif
vulnérable
délicat
irritable
Emotionally receptive
adjective
emotions
neutral
Quick to feel emotion or deeply affected by other people, beauty, or thoughtful acts.
Examples
Elle est très sensible à la souffrance des autres.
She is very sensitive to other people’s suffering.
Il paraît réservé, mais il est profondément sensible.
He seems reserved, but he is deeply sensitive.
Je suis sensible à votre geste de solidarité.
I am touched by your gesture of solidarity.
Cet enfant sensible a besoin d’être rassuré.
This sensitive child needs reassurance.
Nous sommes tous sensibles au charme de cette musique.
We are all moved by the charm of this music.
Similar words
émotif
touché
réceptif
attendri
impressionnable
compatissant
Noticeable or significant
adjective
measurement
neutral
Clear enough to be perceived or measured, often describing a change, difference, or improvement.
Examples
Une baisse sensible des prix est attendue.
A noticeable fall in prices is expected.
La qualité s’est sensiblement améliorée.
The quality has improved noticeably.
On observe une différence sensible entre les deux versions.
There is a perceptible difference between the two versions.
Le traitement a produit un effet sensible dès la première semaine.
The treatment produced a noticeable effect in the first week.
La température connaît une hausse sensible.
The temperature is rising significantly.
Similar words
perceptible
notable
appréciable
marqué
manifeste
important
Detecting small changes
adjective
technology
technical
Designed to react to very small variations or easily affected by operating conditions.
Examples
Ce capteur est sensible aux moindres vibrations.
This sensor is sensitive to the slightest vibrations.
L’appareil est trop sensible aux interférences.
The device is too sensitive to interference.
Une balance sensible mesure de très faibles masses.
A sensitive scale measures very small masses.
Le film photographique est sensible à la lumière.
Photographic film is sensitive to light.
Ce microphone sensible capte les bruits les plus faibles.
This sensitive microphone picks up the faintest sounds.
Similar words
réactif
précis
délicat
réceptif
Delicate or protected
adjective
social
neutral
Likely to cause harm, conflict, or embarrassment, or requiring special protection because the stakes are high.
Examples
Le ministre a évité cette question sensible.
The minister avoided this sensitive question.
Ces données sensibles doivent être chiffrées.
This sensitive data must be encrypted.
Ils travaillent dans un secteur sensible.
They work in a sensitive sector.
Le dossier contient des informations sensibles.
The file contains sensitive information.
C’est un sujet sensible dans la famille.
It is a delicate subject in the family.
Similar words
délicat
confidentiel
critique
vulnérable
épineux
risqué
Leading tone
noun
music
technical
The seventh degree of a scale when it lies a semitone below the tonic and strongly leads toward it.
Examples
En do majeur, la sensible est le si.
In C major, the leading tone is B.
La sensible monte naturellement vers la tonique.
The leading tone naturally rises toward the tonic.
Le professeur demande de chanter la sensible.
The teacher asks the class to sing the leading note.
Cette gamme ne possède pas de sensible au sens tonal.
This scale has no leading tone in the tonal sense.
L’accord met la sensible en valeur.
The chord emphasizes the leading tone.
Similar words
note sensible
septième degré
The perceptible world
noun
philosophy
technical
What can be known through the senses, as opposed to what is grasped only by thought.
Examples
Platon oppose souvent le sensible à l’intelligible.
Plato often contrasts the sensible with the intelligible.
Notre connaissance du sensible commence par la perception.
Our knowledge of the sensible world begins with perception.
Le philosophe étudie le rapport entre le sensible et la pensée.
The philosopher studies the relation between the sensory realm and thought.
L’œuvre donne une forme visible au sensible.
The work gives visible form to the perceptible world.
Cette théorie ne réduit pas le réel au sensible.
This theory does not reduce reality to what can be sensed.
Similar words
monde sensible
perceptible
Etymology
From Latin sensibilis, meaning “capable of being felt” or “endowed with sensation,” through French sens and the family of words connected with feeling and perception.
FAQ
What does sensible mean in French?
It usually means sensitive, responsive, noticeable, or delicate, depending on context.
Does French sensible mean reasonable?
No. English sensible is usually sensé or raisonnable in French.
Is sensible masculine or feminine?
It has the same spelling in the masculine and feminine, and the regular plural is sensibles.
What does sensible à mean?
It means sensitive or responsive to something, as in sensible au froid.
What is la sensible in music?
It is the leading tone, the seventh scale degree a semitone below the tonic.
How is sensible pronounced in French?
It is pronounced /sɑ̃sibl/.
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