1. make sensitive or aware

e.g. He was not sensitized to her emotional needs

Synonym: sensitisesensifysensibilizesensibilise

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

e.g. sensitize the photographic film

Synonym: sensitise

3. make sensitive to a drug or allergen

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

Synonym: sensitise

4. cause to sense
make sensitive

e.g. She sensitized me with respect to gender differences in this traditional male-dominated society
My tongue became sensitized to good wine

Synonym: sensitise