v. sen·si·tized, sen·si·tiz·ing, sen·si·tiz·es v.tr. 1. To make sensitive: "Solitude had sensitized him to the roughness of other people" (Jeffrey Eugenides). 2. To make (a film or plate) sensitive to light, especially to light of a specific wavelength. 3. To make hypersensitive or reactive to an antigen, such as pollen, especially by a second or repeated exposure. v.intr. To become sensitive or hypersensitive. [SENSIT(IVE) + -IZE.] sen′si·ti·zation (-tĭ-zāshən) n. sensi·tiz′er n. |
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