SENSITISE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does sensitise mean? 

• SENSITISE (verb)
  The verb SENSITISE has 4 senses:

1. cause to sense; make sensitive

2. make sensitive to a drug or allergen

3. make (a material) sensitive to light, often of a particular colour, by coating it with a photographic emulsion

4. make sensitive or aware

  Familiarity information: SENSITISE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SENSITISE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they sensitise    ... he / she / it sensitises   
Past simple: sensitised   
Past participle: sensitised   
-ing form: sensitising   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cause to sense; make sensitive

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

sensitise; sensitize

Context example:

My tongue became sensitized to good wine

Cause:

feel; sense (perceive by a physical sensation, e.g., coming from the skin or muscles)

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

photosensitise; photosensitize (make (an organism or substance) sensitive to the influence of radiant energy and especially light)

excite; stimulate; stir (stir feelings in)

Sentence frames:

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

Antonym:

desensitise (cause not to be sensitive)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make sensitive to a drug or allergen

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

sensitise; sensitize

Context example:

Long-term exposure to this medicine may sensitize you to the allergen

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

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

Sentence frames:

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

Derivation:

sensitisation (rendering an organism sensitive to a serum by a series of injections)

sensitisation (the state of being sensitive (as to an antigen))

sensitiser ((chemistry) a substance other than a catalyst that facilitates the start of a catalytic reaction)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Make (a material) sensitive to light, often of a particular colour, by coating it with a photographic emulsion

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

sensitise; sensitize

Context example:

sensitize the photographic film

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

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

Domain category:

photography; picture taking (the act of taking and printing photographs)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

sensitiser ((chemistry) a substance other than a catalyst that facilitates the start of a catalytic reaction)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Make sensitive or aware

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

sensibilise; sensibilize; sensify; sensitise; sensitize

Context example:

He was not sensitized to her emotional needs

Hypernyms (to "sensitise" 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

 Context examples 

These include state-of-the-art perovskite light absorbers, which provide a high photovoltage and electrical current to power the chemical reaction by which carbon dioxide is reduced to carbon monoxide, in comparison to light absorbers made from silicon or dye-sensitised materials.

(‘Artificial leaf’ successfully produces clean gas, University of Cambridge)

K. Kemparaju, a professor at the biochemistry department of the University of Mysore, Karnataka, says the researchers have, through the study, made a highly valid effort to scientifically convince and sensitise antivenom producers and policymakers to switch to the making of region-specific antivenom.

(‘India needs region-specific snakebite antivenoms’, SciDev.Net)