sense of humour
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sense of 'humour n [S] the ability to understand and enjoy something or somebody that is funny, or to make people laugh: She's got a good/no sense of humour.
sense of oc'casion n [S] 1 a natural feeling that tells one how one should behave at a particular social event 2 suitable feeling produced in someone by an important event
'sense ,organ n a part of the body, such as the eye, nose, tongue, or ear, by which the brain receives messages from the outside world
sen·ses /'sensɪz/ n [P] one's ability to think (reasonably): You must have taken leave of your senses (=be mad) to have done such a thing. | Nobody in their right senses would pay that much for a painting. | She felt faint in the hot room, but going out into the fresh air she quickly regained her senses. (=stopped feeling faint) | When will she come to her senses and see that he is a totally unsuitable man to marry? | He refuses to pay, but perhaps you can bring him to his senses. (=make him behave sensibly)
sen·si·bil·i·ty /sensɪ'bɪləti/ also sensibilities pl. — n [U] 1 fml delicate feeling about style or what is correct, especially in art or behaviour: Only a person of the greatest sensibility would appreciate all the subtle nuances of this painting. | It somewhat wounded her sensibilities to be addressed in that vulgar manner. 2 [(to)] sensitiveness or awareness (AWARE): sensibility to pain/the delicate nature of the situation
Compare sensibility and sensible, sensitivity and sensitive. Sensibility is not related to sensible in its meaning of 'reasonable and practical' but is closer to sensible of (=conscious of). If people have delicate feelings and are quick to enjoy or suffer you can say that they have great sensibility/sensitivity or that they are sensitive. Sensitive/sensitivity can also be used to suggest that someone is very conscious of other people's opinions and can easily be hurt: Be careful not to criticize him too much. He's very sensitive.
sen·si·ble /'sensɪbəl/ adj 1 reasonable; having or showing good sense: a sensible suggestion | It was very sensible of you to bring your umbrella. | She's very sensible about money. | We'll be doing a lot of walking, so you'd better bring some sensible (=comfortable and strong) shoes with you. | Surely it would be sensible to get a second opinion before taking any further action. 2 fml noticeable: a sensible increase in temperature 3 [F+of] old-fash fml knowing; recognizing; conscious: He was sensible of the trouble he had caused. → SENSIBILITY (USAGE), WISE (USAGE) —bly adv
sen·si·mil·i·an /sensɪ'mɪliən/ n, adj [U] AmE a type of CANNABIS (an illegal drug) which is of HAWAIIAN origin and is extremely strong
sen·si·tive /'sensɪtɪv/ adj 1 [(to)] strongly or easily influenced or changed by something: sensitive to cold/pain | light-sensitive photographic paper 2 [(about)] sometimes derog having feelings that are easily hurt; easily offended: Don't be so sensitive - I wasn't criticizing you. | Don't mention that she's put on weight - she's very sensitive about it. → compare HYPERSENSITIVE 3 showing delicate feelings or judgment in art, music, taste etc: a sensitive performance/actor → opposite INSENSITIVE 4 [(to)] knowing or being conscious of the feelings and opinions of others: He's very sensitive to his pupils' need for encouragement and knows when to praise them. → opposite INSENSITIVE 5 (of an apparatus) measuring exactly: a more sensitive thermometer 6 containing highly secret information: sensitive official papers 7 needing to be dealt with carefully so as not to cause trouble or offence; delicate: This is such a sensitive issue that perhaps the press should not be told. | a price-sensitive market (=one in which a product will be bought only if the price is exactly right) → see SENSIBILITY (USAGE) —ly adv —tivity /sensɪ'tɪvəti/, —ness /'sensɪtɪvnəs/ n [U[to])
sen·si·tize also -ise BrE /'sensɪtaɪz/ v [T(to)] to make sensitive: sensitized photographic film | His illness had sensitized him to bright light. → compare DESENSITIZE
sen·sor /'sensə/ n tech an apparatus used for discovering the presence of a particular quality or effect, such as light, heat, sound etc, especially in small quantities
sen·so·ry /'sensəri/ adj fml of or by the bodily senses or their use: sensory stimuli → see also ESP
sen·su·al /'senʃuəl/ adj 1 of the feelings of the body rather than the mind: purely sensual pleasures 2 interested in or making one think of physical, especially sexual, pleasure: sensual curves/lips | a sensual woman —ity /senʃu'æləti/ n [U]
Compare sensual and sensuous. A sensual person is usually one who wants physical and especially sexual pleasure; something that is sensual suggests or gives this pleasure. Sensuous is used of something that gives pleasure to the senses, or that suggests pleasure found in the senses and in the body: She uses beautiful sensuous lines in her drawings.
sen·su·al·ist /'senʃuəlɪst/ n derog a person very interested in sensual pleasure
sen·su·ous /'senʃuəs/ adj 1 apprec giving pleasure to the senses: The cat stretched itself with sensuous ease in the warm sun. | the sensuous feeling of soft velvet on the skin 2 full of powerful images or sounds suggesting especially bodily pleasure: sensuous music 3 SENSUAL → see SENSUAL (USAGE) —ly adv —ness n [U]
sent /sent/ past tense & participle of SEND
sen·tence¹ /'sentəns/ n 1 (in grammar) a group of words that forms a statement, command, EXCLAMATION, or question, usually contains a subject and a verb, and (in written English) begins with a capital letter and ends with any of the marks . ! ? The following are all sentences: 'Sing the song again.' 'Birds sing.' 'How well he sings!' 'Who sang at the concert last night?' → compare CLAUSE, PHRASE 2 (an order given by a judge which fixes) a punishment for a criminal declared to be guilty in court: a six-year (prison) sentence | He received a heavy/light (=long/short) sentence. | The sentence was two years (in prison) and a fine of £10,000. | When the jury has given its verdict, the judge will pass/pronounce sentence (on him). | The death sentence (=being killed) has been abolished in Britain, and now you get a life sentence (=being put in prison for a very long time) for murder. | While he was under sentence of death (=waiting to be officially killed) he was not allowed to speak to other prisoners. → see Feature on page A23
sentence² v [T(to) often pass.] (of a judge or court) to give a punishment to: He was sentenced to three years in prison.
sen·ten·tious /sen'tenʃəs/ adj fml derog full of supposedly wise remarks about proper behaviour or morality —ly adv
sen·tient /'senʃənt/ adj fml or tech having feelings and some kind of consciousness: Man is a sentient being.
sen·ti·ment /'sentɪmənt/ n 1 [U] sometimes derog tender feelings of pity, love, sadness etc, or remembrance of such feelings in the past: There's no place for sentiment in business affairs. | It's not a beautiful watch, but I wear it for sentiment because it was my father's. 2 [C,U] fml (a) thought or judgment caused or influenced by feeling: The prime minister has condemned this act of terrorism, and the other party leaders have expressed similar sentiments. | There is strong public sentiment on the question of unemployment. 3 [C also sentiments pl.] fml or pomp an opinion about a matter: I share your sentiments. | (Those are) my sentiments exactly. (=I totally agree.) 4 [C] fml or pomp a phrase expressing a wish or feeling: A birthday card usually has a suitable sentiment like 'Happy Birthday' on it.
sen·ti·ment·al /sentɪ'mentl/ adj 1 showing or based on tender feelings rather than reasonable or practical judgments: The old clock was a present from my father and has sentimental value. | She kept all the old photographs for sentimental reasons. 2 derog showing too much of such feelings, especially of a weak or insincere kind: sentimental love stories —ly adv
sen·ti·ment·al·ism /sentɪ'mentəlɪzəm/ n [U] fondness for sentimentality —ist n
sen·ti·men·tal·i·ty /sentɪmen'tælɪti/ n [U] usually derog the quality of being SENTIMENTAL
sen·ti·ment·al·ize also -ise BrE /sentɪ'mentəlaɪz/ v derog 1 [T] to treat or consider in a sentimental way: It's a sentimentalized description of what was really a terrible time to live in. 2 [I(over, about)] to speak, write etc, sentimentally: sentimentalizing about his childhood
sen·ti·nel /'sentɪnəl/ n lit or old use a guard; sentry