sensitive plant

noun

: any of several mimosas (especially Mimosa pudica) with leaves that fold or droop when touched
broadly : a plant responding to touch with movement

Examples of sensitive plant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The National Weather Service recommends: Bringing sensitive plants indoors. Staff Reports, The Arizona Republic, 1 Feb. 2024 Cover sensitive plants before sunset; that helps capture any ground heat and keeps it close to the plants. Debbie Arrington, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024 Melton plays Joe like a sensitive plant whose leaves fold inward when touched by enemies. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Dec. 2023 When forecasters predicted that oppressive heat would settle over much of the South for days this month, one of the first thoughts for staff members at the Mobile Botanical Gardens was how to protect their most sensitive plants. Judson Jones, New York Times, 30 June 2023 This is a great trick for especially sensitive plants that need a bit of extra care during the worst of heat waves. Abby Wilson, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Sep. 2023 Before selecting and applying a herbicide, check its label thoroughly to see if there are cautions about sensitive plants and a tendency to drift (move away from the application site). Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 19 June 2023 However, for particularly sensitive plants or during periods of unusually intense heat, using temporary covers can offer some protection. Tiffany Acosta arizona Republic, The Arizona Republic, 27 July 2023 Residents in those areas may want to cover sensitive plants. oregonlive, 14 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sensitive plant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1640, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sensitive plant was in 1640

Dictionary Entries Near sensitive plant

Cite this Entry

“Sensitive plant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sensitive%20plant. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sensitive plant

noun
: any of several mimosas with leaves that fold or droop when touched

More from Merriam-Webster on sensitive plant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!