sen‧si‧tize (
also sensitise British English) /ˈsensətaɪz, ˈsensɪtaɪz/
verb [transitive] [
Word Family: adjective:
sensible,
insensible,
senseless,
sensitive ≠
insensitive,
sensory,
nonsensical,
insensate;
noun:
sense ≠
nonsense,
sensibility ≠
insensibility,
sensitivity ≠
insensitivity,
senselessness,
sensitization,
sensor;
adverb:
sensibly,
senselessly,
sensitively ≠
insensitively;
verb:
sense,
sensitize]
1. to give someone some experience or knowledge of a particular problem or situation so that they can notice it and understand it easily
sensitize somebody to something
Volunteers need to be sensitized to the cultural differences they will meet in African countries.2. [usually passive] if someone is sensitized to a particular substance, their body has begun to have a bad reaction whenever they touch it, breathe it etc
be sensitized to something Many hospital workers have become sensitized to the latex in gloves.3. technical to treat a material or a piece of equipment so that it will react to physical or chemical changes:
sensitized photographic paper—sensitization /ˌsensətaɪˈzeɪʃ
ən, ˌsensɪtaɪˈzeɪʃ
ən $ -tə-/
noun [uncountable] [TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲