sensitize

[ sen-si-tahyz ]
See synonyms for sensitize on Thesaurus.com
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.

  1. Immunology. to render sensitive to an antigenic substance.

verb (used without object),sen·si·tized, sen·si·tiz·ing.
  1. to become sensitized.

Origin of sensitize

1
First recorded in 1855–60; sensit(ive) + -ize
  • Also especially British, sen·si·tise .

Other words from sensitize

  • 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, o·ver·sen·si·tized, o·ver·sen·si·tiz·ing.
  • re·sen·si·tize, verb (used with object), re·sen·si·tized, re·sen·si·tiz·ing.
  • un·sen·si·tize, verb (used with object), un·sen·si·tized, un·sen·si·tiz·ing.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for sensitize

sensitize

sensitise

/ (ˈsɛnsɪˌtaɪz) /


verb
  1. to make or become sensitive

  2. (tr) to render (an individual) sensitive to a drug, allergen, etc

  1. (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 of sensitize

  • sensitization or sensitisation, noun
  • sensitizer or sensitiser, noun

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