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hypodermic

American  
[hahy-puh-dur-mik] / ˌhaɪ pəˈdɜr mɪk /

adjective

  1. characterized by the introduction of medicine or drugs under the skin.

    hypodermic injection.

  2. introduced under the skin.

    a hypodermic medication.

  3. pertaining to parts under the skin.

  4. stimulating; energizing.


noun

  1. a hypodermic remedy.

  2. a hypodermic injection.

  3. hypodermic syringe.

  4. the administration of drugs into subcutaneous body tissues.

hypodermic British  
/ ˌhaɪpəˈdɜːmɪk /

adjective

  1. of or relating to the region of the skin beneath the epidermis

  2. injected beneath the skin

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a hypodermic syringe or needle

  2. a hypodermic injection

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of hypodermic

First recorded in 1860–65; hypoderm(a) + -ic

Explanation

Hypodermic is a medical term that refers to anything related to just under the skin. A hypodermic needle injects medicine into your veins. The prefix hypo- means "under," while the Latin word derma refers to "skin." You might remember this easily by thinking about the word dermatologist, which is a doctor who deals with skin issues. Hypodermic is also a noun that refers to a syringe, or needle, that pierces beneath the skin. As an adjective, hypodermic means anything that relates to or is found below the skin, like a hypodermic bruise.

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Vocabulary lists containing hypodermic

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.

Bassett will be playing Ramona, Bomer will be playing Donovan, Peters will be playing Mr. March, Paulson will be playing Hypodermic Sally, and Bates will be playing Iris. 

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 12, 2015

Hypodermic needles, builders' rubble, traffic cones - everything you can imagine is down there.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2010

Hypodermic injections by an attending physician made her feel as if her bed were tipping.

From Time Magazine Archive

Hypodermic injections of arsenic have been used considerably with no better results.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various

Hypodermic tablets of epinephrin may also be obtained.

From Disturbances of the Heart by Osborne, Oliver T. (Oliver Thomas)

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