Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- v. To make sensitive: "The polarity principle . . . sensitizes the observer to the coexistence of seemingly contradictory phenomena” ( Heinz Eulau).
- v. To make (a film or plate) sensitive to light, especially to light of a specific wavelength.
- v. To make hypersensitive or reactive to an antigen, such as pollen, especially by a second or repeated exposure.
- v. To become sensitive or hypersensitive.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- To render sensitive; specifically, in photography, to render capable of being acted on by actinic rays of light: as, sensitized paper, or a sensitized plate. See sensitized paper, under paper.
Wiktionary
- v. To become increasingly aware of, in a concerned or sensitive way.
GNU Webster's 1913
- v. (Photog.) To render sensitive, or susceptible of being easily acted on by the actinic rays of the sun.
WordNet 3.0
- v. make sensitive to a drug or allergen
- v. cause to sense; make sensitive
- v. make (a material) sensitive to light, often of a particular colour, by coating it with a photographic emulsion
- v. make sensitive or aware
Etymologies
- From sensitive + -ize. (Wiktionary)
- sensit(ive) + -ize. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
Examples
“SENSITIVE—To sensitize is to make something more sensitive.”
“Add omega-3 essential fatty acids to our diets, which help "sensitize" our cells to insulin.”
Dr. Nicholas Perricone: Michelle Obama -- The Right to 'Bare' Arms
“The intent of the program is to sensitize those most closely involved with Alzheimer's patients to develop a higher degree of understanding and patience in dealing with their behaviors and what it takes for them to get through the day,? said Dan Fox, a partner of Right at Home.”
“Mr. Gates is racially sensitize and thinks white people hate him.”
“I live in Utah among all whites I have learned I must de-sensitize myself in order to live here.”
“We are brought into accord with the Tao, then, when we sensitize ourselves to its unitary nature by cultivating a profound and equal respect for matter and spirit.”
The Huffington Post: William Horden: The Tao Of Green: Love Of Humanity And Nature
“Above all, it is important to continue to sensitize the military be they perpetrators or not, so that the guilty ones will wake up to the consequences of their actions or better still take the relevant preventive measures.”
“Hopefully, this meeting will also highlight that fact and try to sensitize the key constituencies a lot more, work with chambers of commerce, work with civil society and business groups and work with African governments so that they could feel a greater sense of ownership.”
Voice of America: Clinton Prepares For Economic Oriented Africa Tour
“So we sensitize men through this leadership program so they in turn can help other men to be advocates on behalf of women.”
The Huffington Post: Rahim Kanani: An Interview with Karen Sherman of Women for Women International
“Exercises that make use of these psychological manipulations ostensibly for purposes of social welfare are a way to sensitize audiences to "opportunities" for engaging in the same behaviors for (somebody else's) commercial interests.”
Discourse.net: Privacy is More About Control than About Content
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘sensitize’.
Tweets
Looking for tweets for sensitize.
Comments
No comments yet...
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.