DESENSITIZE

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does desensitize mean? 

• DESENSITIZE (verb)
  The verb DESENSITIZE has 2 senses:

1. cause not to be sensitive

2. make insensitive

  Familiarity information: DESENSITIZE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DESENSITIZE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they desensitize    ... he / she / it desensitizes   
Past simple: desensitized   
Past participle: desensitized   
-ing form: desensitizing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cause not to be sensitive

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

desensitise; desensitize

Context example:

The photographic plate was desensitized

Hypernyms (to "desensitize" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "desensitize"):

benumb; blunt; dull; numb (make numb or insensitive)

bedaze; daze; stun (overcome as with astonishment or disbelief)

besot; stupefy (make dull or stupid or muddle with drunkenness or infatuation)

deaf; deafen (make or render deaf)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Antonym:

sensitize (cause to sense; make sensitive)

Derivation:

desensitization (the process of reducing sensitivity)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make insensitive

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

desensitise; desensitize

Context example:

His military training desensitized him

Hypernyms (to "desensitize" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody PP

Antonym:

sensitize (make sensitive or aware)

Derivation:

desensitization (the process of reducing sensitivity)

 Context examples 

As with many cell-surface receptors, activation of the EGF receptor can result in receptor internalization through receptor-mediated endocytosis, desensitizing further receptor signaling.

(EGF Receptor Downregulation by CBL Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

The shift from open to desensitized states required much larger rearrangements.

(Structural states of a brain receptor revealed, NIH)

Other researchers found evidence in rodents that, by stimulating taste receptors, artificial sweeteners desensitized the animals’ digestive tracts, so that they felt less full after they ate and were more likely to overeat.

(Drinking diet beverages during pregnancy linked to child obesity, NIH)

In a study that followed participants after OIT successfully desensitized them to peanut, discontinuing OIT or continuing OIT at a reduced dose led to a decline in its protective effects.

(Few people with peanut allergy tolerate peanut after stopping oral immunotherapy, National Institutes of Health)

Alternatively, lithium may decrease cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) concentrations, which would desensitize hormonal-sensitive adenylyl cyclase receptors.

(Lithium Citrate, NCI Thesaurus)

In its role as a ubiquitin ligase and docking protein, Cbl desensitizes EGF signaling and also opposes cellular proliferation induced by EGF.

(EGF Receptor Downregulation by CBL Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

A team led by Dr. Sriram Subramaniam of NIH’s National Cancer Institute (NCI) set out to determine the structure of the glutamate receptor as it transitions from its resting state to open to desensitized (reduced response to glutamate) states.

(Structural states of a brain receptor revealed, NIH)

Although previous studies have shown that peanut oral immunotherapy (OIT) — ingesting small, controlled amounts of peanut protein —can desensitize adults and children and prevent life-threatening allergic reactions, the optimal duration and dose is unknown.

(Few people with peanut allergy tolerate peanut after stopping oral immunotherapy, National Institutes of Health)