desensitize
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Related to desensitize: desensitisation
de·sen·si·tize
(dē-sĕn′sĭ-tīz′)tr.v. 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.
de·sen′si·ti·za′tion (-tĭ-zā′shən) n.
de·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.
desensitize
(diːˈsɛnsɪˌtaɪz) ordesensitise
vb (tr)
1. (Medicine) to render insensitive or less sensitive: the patient was desensitized to the allergen; to desensitize photographic film.
2. (Photography) to render insensitive or less sensitive: the patient was desensitized to the allergen; to desensitize photographic film.
3. (Psychology) psychol to decrease the abnormal fear in (a person) of a situation or object, by exposing him to it either in reality or in his imagination
deˌsensitiˈzation, deˌsensitiˈsation n
deˈsensiˌtizer, deˈsensiˌtiser n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
de•sen•si•tize
(diˈsɛn sɪˌtaɪz)v.t. -tized, -tiz•ing.
1. to lessen the sensitiveness of.
2. to make indifferent, unaware, or the like, in feeling.
3. to make less sensitive or wholly insensitive to light, as the emulsion on a film.
[1900–05]
de•sen′si•tiz`er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
desensitize
Past participle: desensitized
Gerund: desensitizing
| Imperative |
|---|
| desensitize |
| desensitize |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Verb | 1. | desensitize - cause not to be sensitive; "The war desensitized many soldiers"; "The photographic plate was desensitized" |
| 2. | desensitize - make insensitive; "His military training desensitized him" alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue" sensibilise, sensibilize, sensify, sensitize, sensitise - make sensitive or aware; "He was not sensitized to her emotional needs" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
desensitize
verbThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
desensitivisere
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
desensitize
vt (Phot) → lichtunempfindlich machen; (Med) → desensibilisieren; to become desensitized to something (fig) → einer Sache (dat) → gegenüber abstumpfen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
de·sen·si·tize
vt. desensibilizar, reducir o eliminar una sensibilidad de origen físico o emocional.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
desensitize
vt desensibilizarEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.