hypothermia

[ hahy-puh-thur-mee-uh ]

noun

1. Pathology. subnormal body temperature.
2. Medicine/Medical. the artificial reduction of body temperature to slow metabolic processes, as for facilitating heart surgery.

hypothermia

/ ˌhaɪpəʊˈθɜːmɪə /

noun

1. pathol an abnormally low body temperature, as induced in the elderly by exposure to cold weather
2. med the intentional reduction of normal body temperature, as by ice packs, to reduce the patient's metabolic rate: performed esp in heart and brain surgery

hypothermia

/ hī′pə-thûr′mē-ə /

1. An abnormally low body temperature, often caused by prolonged exposure to cold.
2. Compare hyperthermia

Other Words From

• hypo·thermic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hypothermia¹

First recorded in 1885–90; hypo- + therm- + -ia

Example Sentences

Mylar blankets help hikers ward off hypothermia in two ways.

From Outside Online

Exposed to the elements on the roof, Pätz was trying to keep hypothermia at bay.

From Washington Post

Other causes of death on the AT have included drowning, heart attacks, hypothermia, lightning strikes, falling trees, and getting lost.

From Outside Online

The remaining 27 percent are the most interesting ones, attributed to non-trauma causes like altitude illness and hypothermia.

From Outside Online

We had people dying of hypothermia in the energy capital of the world.

From Washington Post

Last week, 18 people making the same trip died of hypothermia on the way.

From The Daily Beast

One prisoner, who was left naked and shackled to a cold floor, died of suspected hypothermia.

From The Daily Beast

In November 2002, a detainee who had been held partially nude and chained to the floor died, apparently from hypothermia.

From The Daily Beast

Rahman was later found dead, with hypothermia the suspected cause.

From The Daily Beast

The hospital found hypothermia, respiratory problems and assumed a head injury.

From The Daily Beast