Dictionary

sensitize en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree English sensitive Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íd͏̌d͏̌ō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English sensitize From sensitive + -ize.

Meanings

1. To make (someone or something) sensitive or responsive to certain stimuli.
   • Anaphylaxis is the syndrome elicited in a hypersensitive subject upon subsequent exposure to the sensitizing antigen. 1999, Michael A. Kaliner, “12: Anaphylaxis”, in Marianne Frieri, Brett Kettelhut, editors, Food Hypersensitivity and Adverse Reactions, page 257:
   • Again, I strongly recommend that you sensitize your collodion-coated plates in a tank, rather than a tray, as it is safer, cleaner, and more process-efficient. 2015, Christopher James, The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes, page 441:
   • BRCA1 sensitizes cells to apoptosis induced by antimicrotubulin agents like taxanes and vinca alkaloids and also abrogates the effect of DNA-damaging agents like cisplatin and etoposide [ 41 ]. 2012 September 19, Alphy Rose-James, Sreelekha TT, “Molecular Markers with Predictive and Prognostic Relevance in Lung Cancer”, in Lung cancer international, volume 2012, →DOI:
   • Great emphasis should be placed on sensitizing the hands to the feel of the water, and the hands should remain sensitized throughout the workout.[…]Swimmers should sensitize the hands at the beginning of every workout by swimming the first 200 meters with their fists tightly clenched. 2002, Cecil Colwin, Breakthrough Swimming, page 117:
2. To make (someone) increasingly aware of, in a concerned or sensitive way.
   • At least two stations have been sensitized towards the position gay media professionals […] have to take to protect their job security. 1974 April 13, “Media Message”, in Gay Community News, page 8:
   • Ever since the burglary, we've been more sensitized to home security issues.
3. (transitive) To render capable of being acted on by actinic rays of light.

Forms

Deriveds

supersensitize · hyposensitize · radiosensitize · polysensitize · sensitizer · chemosensitize · presensitize · photosensitize · sensitizable · resensitize

Relateds

desensitize · publicize · sensitive · sensitization · sensitivize

Synonyms

familiarize (make someone increasingly aware of)

Translations (17)

es sensibilizar (to make increasingly aware of) · cs senzibilizovat (to make increasingly aware of) · bg правя чувствителен (to make sensitive or responsive to certain stimuli) · hu szenzitizál (to make increasingly aware of) · hu érzékenyít (to make increasingly aware of) · fi herkistää (to make increasingly aware of) · ro sensibiliza (to make sensitive or responsive to certain stimuli) · fi herkistää (to make sensitive or responsive to certain stimuli) · de sensibilisieren (to make sensitive or responsive to certain stimuli) · de sensibilisieren (to make increasingly aware of) · ca sensibilitzar (to make increasingly aware of) · ro sensibiliza (to make increasingly aware of) · it sensibilizzare (to make increasingly aware of) · hu érzékennyé tesz (to make sensitive or responsive to certain stimuli) · fi herkistyä (to make increasingly aware of) · cmn 使意识到 (to make increasingly aware of) · ca sensibilitzar (to make sensitive or responsive to certain stimuli)