The term 'sensory' refers to the senses, which are the means by which humans and other animals perceive the world around them. The crossword solution 'AFFERENT' is an adjective that describes a type of sensory nerve fiber that carries signals from the body's sense organs to the central nervous system. AFFERENT fibers are responsible for conveying information about the environment to the brain, allowing us to interpret and respond to our surroundings.