hypersensitize

[ hahy-per-sen-si-tahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, hy·per·sen·si·tized, hy·per·sen·si·tiz·ing.

1. Photography. to treat (a film or emulsion) so as to increase its speed.
2. Pathology. to strongly heighten a reaction upon reexposure to a particular antigen.

hypersensitize

/ ˌhaɪpəˈsɛnsɪˌtaɪz /

verb

1. tr to treat (a photographic emulsion), usually after manufacture and shortly before exposure, to increase its speed

Derived Forms

• ˌhyperˌsensitiˈzation, noun

Other Words From

• hyper·sensi·ti·zation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hypersensitize¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; hypersensit(ive) + -ize