dehydration

[ dee-hahy-drey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act or process of dehydrating.
2. an abnormal loss of water from the body, especially from illness or physical exertion.

dehydration

/ dē′hī-drā′shən /

1. The process of losing or removing water or moisture.
2. A condition caused by the excessive loss of water from the body, which causes a rise in blood sodium levels. Since dehydration is most often caused by excessive sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea, water loss is usually accompanied by a deficiency of electrolytes. If untreated, severe dehydration can lead to shock.

Word History and Origins

Origin of dehydration¹

First recorded in 1850–55; dehydrate + -ion

Example Sentences

With the lights in my kitchen still off so I don’t have to face the day quite yet, I listen to the morning’s news or scroll TikTok or just stare at nothing and think about what it says that my succulents are all dying of dehydration.

From Eater

One thing that I had afterwards that I don’t get nearly as much now, and I know it’s a compounding dehydration issue, is migraines.

From Ozy

If you’ve expended a lot of energy, the most serious of your problems will be dehydration.

From Popular-Science

Dry air, whether indoor or outdoor, is a recipe for a host of potential inconveniences including dry skin, irritated eyes, and overall dehydration of your body.

From Popular-Science

In 2018, Armor was criminally charged with falsifying records to give the appearance that staffers had been checking on a man as he died of dehydration in his cell.

From Washington Post

Not all hospices will agree to facilitate self-dehydration, so Schwarz refers patients to those that will.

From The Daily Beast

During this debacle, she read some medical literature on self-dehydration.

From The Daily Beast

As she tells patients about the steps of self-dehydration, she tries to avoid influencing their decisions.

From The Daily Beast

Often patients decide against self-dehydration after meeting with Schwarz.

From The Daily Beast

Well, yes, but a recent study in PLOS ONE debunks the myth that it also causes dehydration.

From The Daily Beast

Dehydration is effected by transferring the tissues to fresh absolute alcohol.

From Project Gutenberg

And the scrawniness of stem and blade suggested dehydration and poor soil.

From Project Gutenberg

Dehydration was practically unknown in the United States, there being but three small plants in existence.

From Project Gutenberg

An engine operated by steam produced by the hydration and dehydration of metallic salts.

From Project Gutenberg

It probably represents the partial dehydration of limonite, and by further loss of water may pass into haematite or red iron ore.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dispersal
• melting