lionize
Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
lionize /ˈlʌɪənʌɪz/ (or lionise /ˈlʌɪənʌɪz/)
▶verb treat as a celebrity.
– derivatives
lionization noun,
lionizer noun.
lionization noun,
lionizer noun.
'lionize' also found in these Oxford entries:

