Pronunciation: (nom'u-nl-īz"), [key]
—v.t., -ized, -iz•ing.
1. to convert (another part of speech) into a noun, as in changing the adjective lowly into the lowly or the verb legalize into legalization.
2. to convert (an underlying clause) into a noun phrase, as in changing he drinks to his drinking in I am worried about his drinking. Also, esp. Brit.,nom'i•nal•ise".
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.