sensitize

[ sen-si-tahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, sen·si·tized, sen·si·tiz·ing.

1. to render sensitive.
2. Photography. to render (a film or the like) sensitive to light or other forms of radiant energy.
3. Immunology. to render sensitive to an antigenic substance.

verb (used without object)

, sen·si·tized, sen·si·tiz·ing.

1. to become sensitized.

sensitize

/ ˈsɛnsɪˌtaɪz /

verb

1. to make or become sensitive
2. tr to render (an individual) sensitive to a drug, allergen, etc
3. tr photog to make (a material) sensitive to light or to other actinic radiation, esp to light of a particular colour, by coating it with a photographic emulsion often containing special chemicals, such as dyes

Derived Forms

• ˈsensiˌtizer, noun
• ˌsensitiˈzation, noun

Other Words From

• sensi·tizer noun
• anti·sensi·tizer noun
• anti·sensi·tizing adjective
• non·sensi·tized adjective
• non·sensi·tizing adjective
• over·sensi·tize verb oversensitized oversensitizing
• re·sensi·tize verb (used with object) resensitized resensitizing
• un·sensi·tize verb (used with object) unsensitized unsensitizing

Word History and Origins

Origin of sensitize¹

First recorded in 1855–60; sensit(ive) + -ize

Example Sentences

Thus sensitized, their receptiveness hopefully heightened, they are encouraged to take in some terrific sculpture.

From Washington Post

“It’s totally sensitized us to how privileged we are, how lucky we are to have a house, the fact that we live in a safe neighborhood,” said Roslyn Zinner.

From Washington Post

The snails then behaved, once again, as if they remembered the sensitizing training they seemed to have previously forgotten.

From Nautilus

It takes stages such as education, awareness, and sensitizing to change the attitude and the mentality of the people.

From No Straight News

Slowly but steadily, through education, awareness, and sensitizing, India will reach the final destination.

From No Straight News

Use unglazed writing-paper, and sensitize a strip at the top a little larger than the picture to be printed on it.

From Project Gutenberg

To sensitize the plates I employ a bath of bichromate of potash of six per cent, and again dry them.

From Project Gutenberg

To sensitize, immerse the silk in a 20 grain solution of silver nitrate for about sixteen minutes.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• sharpen