sensitize
verbEtymology From sensitive + -ize.
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:
- 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 more examples
- 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:
- 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:
2
To make (someone) increasingly aware of, in a concerned or sensitive way.
- Ever since the burglary, we've been more sensitized to home security issues.
- 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:
3
To render capable of being acted on by actinic rays of light.
- Synonyms
- familiarize
- Derived terms
- chemosensitize, hyposensitize, photosensitize, polysensitize, presensitize, radiosensitize, resensitize, sensitizable, sensitizer, supersensitize
- Related terms
- sensitivize, desensitize, sensitive, sensitization, publicize