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hypoxic

American  
[hahy-pok-sik] / haɪˈpɒk sɪk /

adjective

  1. having or caused by a very low level of oxygen.

    The hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico is caused by excess nutrients, mainly nitrogen from fertilizer runoff.

    Some brain structures are believed to be particularly vulnerable to hypoxic damage during birth.


Etymology

Origin of hypoxic

First recorded in 1940–45; hypox(ia) ( def. ) + -ic ( def. )

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.

See Examples For:

The simulated altitude was created in what is known as hypoxic tents from which oxygen is sucked out using a generator, bringing it to levels present at high mountain altitudes.

From BBC May 21, 2025

Adrian Ballinger, who heads another expedition team climbing Everest from the Chinese side to the north, also makes his clients undergo pre-acclimatisation training like using hypoxic tents to shorten time on the mountains.

From BBC May 21, 2025

Everest included sleeping at home with their heads in hypoxic tents meant to mimic the agonies of extreme altitude, reached the world’s highest summit on Wednesday.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 1, 2024

These areas, which the researchers named "hypoxic pockets," were more prevalent in the brains of mice during a resting state, compared to when the animals were active.

From Science Daily Mar. 28, 2024

Lounging in the sun at 28,700 feet inside my thick down suit, gazing across the roof of the world in a hypoxic stupor, I completely lost track of time.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

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