hypotonic
Americanadjective
-
Physiology. (of tissue) having less than the normal tone.
-
Physical Chemistry. noting a solution of lower osmotic pressure than another solution with which it is compared (opposed to hypertonic).
adjective
-
pathol (of muscles) lacking normal tone or tension
-
(of a solution) having a lower osmotic pressure than that of a specified, generally physiological, solution Compare hypertonic isotonic
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of hypotonic
Compare meaning
How does hypotonic compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Vocabulary lists containing hypotonic
Cell Biology - High School
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Chemistry - High School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In a hypotonic environment, cells tend to swell due to intake of water.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022
Sports drinks can be divided into hypotonic, isotonic, and hypertonic.
From Textbooks ● Dec. 21, 2021
The terms isotonic, hypertonic, and hypotonic refer the “strength,” or concentration, of the sugar solute, not the water.
From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2018
Before equilibrium was reached, the solution with more sugar was hypertonic, or “above strength,” and the solution with less sugar was hypotonic, or “below strength.”
From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2018
During a surgical operation it is of the first importance not to injure the living surfaces by flooding them with strongly hypertonic or hypotonic solutions.
From The Mechanism of Life by Stéphane Leduc
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
