perceptive •\pər-ˈsep-tiv\• adjective 1. of or relating to perception 2. having the ability to perceive or understand; keen in discernmen The word perceptive has appeared in 94 New York Times articles in the past year, including on Feb. 10 in the On the Runway blog post "An Obvious Question" by Cathy Horyn: When I got into a cab the other morning and told the driver, "Lincoln Center, please," he sort of floored me with his reply. You want the fashion shows? Actually, I want a week on a deserted island. But a crack like that would have just produced a pair of bloodshot eyes in the rearview and a big fat, "Huh?" The guy was perceptive, though. I was on my way to my first show of New York Fashion Week - ta-da! - so, I guess that's what I wanted. Learn more about the word "perceptive" and see usage examples across a range of subjects on the Vocabulary dictionary.