sensitization


Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

sen·si·tize

 (sĕn′sĭ-tīz′)

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.



sen′si·ti·za′tion (-tĭ-zā′shən) n.

sen′si·tiz′er n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

sen•si•ti•za•tion

(ˌsɛn sɪ təˈzeɪ ʃən)

n.

1. the process of becoming susceptible to a given stimulus that previously had no effect or significance.

2. a state or condition in which a previously encountered foreign substance triggers an immune reaction.

[1885–90]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun1.sensitization - the state of being sensitive (as to an antigen)

irritation - (pathology) abnormal sensitivity to stimulation; "any food produced irritation of the stomach"

2.sensitization - (psychology) the process of becoming highly sensitive to specific events or situations (especially emotional events or situations)

physical process, process - a sustained phenomenon or one marked by gradual changes through a series of states; "events now in process"; "the process of calcification begins later for boys than for girls"

3.sensitization - rendering an organism sensitive to a serum by a series of injections

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

Translations

sen·si·ti·za·tion

n. sensibilización, acto de hacer sensible o sensorial.

English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012