Sensory
/ˈsɛn.sə.ri/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Sensory means connected to the senses, which are the ways we experience the world (seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, smelling). Sensory information is what our brain gets from these senses to help us understand what is happening around us.
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See It in Action
Related to the senses or sensation
- •Babies learn about the world through sensory play, like touching and tasting objects.
- •The sensory room helped calm children by using soft lights and gentle sounds.
- •Sensory organs like eyes and ears send information to the brain.
In technology or science, related to devices that detect physical information
- •The robot uses sensory equipment to avoid obstacles.
- •Sensory data from the machine helps improve its performance.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "sensory" like "see" or "feel" (A1 words), but it includes all five senses, not just one.
- ✓Picture touching a soft blanket, smelling a flower, or hearing music—these experiences are sensory.
- ✓It's the feeling when you taste something sweet or hear your favorite song playing.
- ✓Sounds like "SENSE-ory" → imagine your senses working like a team to send messages to your brain.
- ✓Think of a story where a character notices colors, smells, and sounds to understand a new place—these are sensory details.
- ✓NOT like "thinking" (which happens inside your mind without senses), sensory is about what your body feels from outside.
- ✓NOT like "emotional" (which is about feelings inside), sensory is about physical experiences with the world.
- ✓NOT like "visual" (only about sight), sensory covers all senses together.
Try Other Words
- •Perceptual: related to perception or understanding through senses (Use in formal or scientific contexts)
- •Sensational: causing strong feelings or excitement (Use only when meaning exciting, not related to senses)
- •Sensuous: relating to physical senses, often in a pleasing way (Use when emphasizing pleasure from senses)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "sens-" (from Latin "sentire," meaning to feel) + "-ory" (a suffix meaning "related to")
- •Etymology: From Latin "sensorius," meaning related to sensation or feeling
- •Historical development: Used in English since the 1600s to describe things connected to the senses
- •Modern usage: Common in biology, psychology, and everyday language to talk about sense experiences and sensory organs
Reflect & Connect
•How do your sensory experiences change when you visit a new place or try new food?
•Can you think of ways to improve your sensory awareness in daily life? How might that help you?
Fill in the blanks
1.Babies explore the world through sensory ___ like touching and tasting new objects.
2.The sensory room uses soft lights and sounds to create a ___ environment.
3.Unlike emotional feelings, sensory experiences come from your ___, like eyes and ears.
4.Robots use sensory ___ to detect obstacles and avoid collisions.
5.Sensory information is sent to the brain to help you ___ what is around you.
6.When you lose one sense, your other sensory ___ often become stronger.
7.Sensory details in a story help readers ___ the scene with their senses.