Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense sensitizes, present participle sensitizing, past tense, past participle sensitizedregional note: in BRIT, also use sensitise
1. verb
If you sensitize people to a particular problem or situation, you make them aware of it.
[formal]
It seems important to sensitize people to the fact that depression is more than theblues. [VERB noun + to]
How many judges in our male-dominated courts are sensitized to the particular issuesfaced by many women? [beVERB-ed]
[Also VERB noun]
2. verb [usually passive]
If a substance is sensitizedto something such as light or touch, it is made sensitive to it.
Skin is easily irritated, chapped, chafed, and sensitized. [beVERB-ed]
...sensitised nerve endings. [VERB-ed]
sensitize in British English
or sensitise (ˈsɛnsɪˌtaɪz)
verb
1.
to make or become sensitive
2. (transitive)
to render (an individual) sensitive to a drug, allergen, etc
3. (transitive) photography
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
sensitization (ˌsensitiˈzation) or sensitisation (ˌsensitiˈsation)
noun
sensitizer (ˈsensiˌtizer) or sensitiser (ˈsensiˌtiser)
noun
sensitize in American English
(ˈsɛnsəˌtaɪz)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈsensiˌtized or ˈsensiˌtizing
to make sensitive or susceptible
; specif.,
a. Photography
to make (a film or plate) sensitive to light, etc.
b. Immunology
to make (an individual) sensitive or hypersensitive to an antigen
Derived forms
sensitization (ˌsensitiˈzation)
noun
sensitizer (ˈsensiˌtizer)
noun
Word origin
sensitive + -ize
Examples of 'sensitize' in a sentence
sensitize
Another time the Die ordered me to sensitize myself to every moment, to live each moment fully awake.