Synonyms

sensitize

American

[sen-si-tahyz] / ˈsɛn sɪˌtaɪz /

especially British, sensitise

verb (used with object)

sensitized, sensitizing

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

verb (used without object)

sensitized, sensitizing

to become sensitized.

sensitize British

/ ˈsɛnsɪˌtaɪz /

verb

to make or become sensitive
(tr) to render (an individual) sensitive to a drug, allergen, etc
(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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of sensitize

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Sensitize the paper with a red prussiate of potash solution at 20 per 100.

From Photographic Reproduction Processes by Duchochois, Peter C.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023