desensitize

(dē sensə tīz′)

transitive verb desensitized, desensitizing

  1. to take away the sensitivity of; make less sensitive
  2. to make (a photographic plate or film) less sensitive to light
  3. Med. to make (a person, animal, or tissue) nonreactive or nonallergic to a substance by removing the antibodies from sensitized cells

Related Forms:

See desensitize in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb de·sen·si·tized, de·sen·si·tiz·ing, de·sen·si·tiz·es
  1. To render insensitive or less sensitive.
  2. Immunology To make (an individual) nonreactive or insensitive to an antigen.
  3. To make emotionally insensitive or unresponsive, as by long exposure or repeated shocks: “This movie in effect may resensitize people who thought they were desensitized to violence” (Steven Spielberg).
  4. To make (a photographic film or substance) less sensitive to light.

Related Forms:

  • de·senˌsi·ti·zaˈtion (-tĭ-zāˈshən) noun
  • de·senˈsi·tizˌer noun

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