sensitize
sen‧si‧tize
(also sensitise British English) /ˈsensətaɪz, ˈsensɪtaɪz/ verb [transitive]
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 /ˌsensətaɪˈzeɪʃən, ˌsensɪtaɪˈzeɪʃən $ -tə-/ noun [uncountable]
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 easilysensitize somebody to something
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
3. technical to treat a material or a piece of equipment so that it will react to physical or chemical changes:
—sensitization /ˌsensətaɪˈzeɪʃən, ˌsensɪtaɪˈzeɪʃən $ -tə-/ noun [uncountable]