sensitize

American  

[sen-si-tahyz] / ˈsɛn sɪˌtaɪz /

especially British, sensitise

verb (used with object)

sensitized, sensitizing

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.

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verb (used without object)

sensitized, sensitizing

1. to become sensitized.

sensitize British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• antisensitizer noun
• antisensitizing adjective
• nonsensitized adjective
• nonsensitizing adjective
• oversensitize verb
• resensitize verb (used with object)
• sensitization noun
• sensitizer noun
• unsensitize verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of sensitize

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

Example Sentences

Testing showed that he had indeed been sensitized to alpha gal.

From Science Daily

These efforts required sensitizing all employees to their own personal prejudices and offending practices.

From Salon

“Throughout California, throughout the West, throughout communities that have had wildfire experience, we are particularly primed and sensitized to that news,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

The findings also encourage the development of drugs that target ARID1A and related proteins as a way of sensitizing other tumors to immunotherapy.

From Science Daily

The researchers conclude that once mast cells are sensitized, diverse xenobiotics that never bothered the person previously and do not bother most people trigger multisystem symptoms that wax and wane over time.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• sharpen