hypo
1[ hahy-poh ]
/ ˈhaɪ poʊ /
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noun, plural hy·pos.
a hypodermic syringe or injection.
a stimulus or boost.
verb (used with object)
to administer a hypodermic injection to.
to stimulate by or as if by administering a hypodermic injection.
to increase, boost, or augment: to hypo the car's power by installing a bigger engine.
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Origin of hypo
1First recorded in 1900–05; by shortening of hypodermic; sense “stimulate” perhaps by association with hype1; see -o
Other definitions for hypo (2 of 4)
Origin of hypo
2First recorded in 1855–60; shortening of hyposulfite
Other definitions for hypo (3 of 4)
Origin of hypo
3First recorded in 1700–10; by shortening
Other definitions for hypo (4 of 4)
hypo-
a prefix appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it meant “under” (hypostasis); on this model used, especially as opposed to hyper-, in the formation of compound words (hypothyroid).
Also especially before a vowel, hyp- .
Origin of hypo-
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH hypo-
hyper-, hypo-Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use hypo in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for hypo (1 of 4)
hypo1
/ (ˈhaɪpəʊ) /
noun
another name for sodium thiosulphate, esp when used as a fixer in photographic developing
Word Origin for hypo
C19: shortened from hyposulphite
British Dictionary definitions for hypo (2 of 4)
British Dictionary definitions for hypo (3 of 4)
hypo-
before a vowel hyp-
prefix
under, beneath, or belowhypodermic
lower; at a lower pointhypogastrium
less thanhypoploid
(in medicine) denoting a deficiency or an abnormally low levelhypothyroid; hypoglycaemia
incomplete or partialhypoplasia
indicating that a chemical compound contains an element in a lower oxidation state than usualhypochlorous acid
Word Origin for hypo-
from Greek, from hupo under
British Dictionary definitions for hypo (4 of 4)
Hypo-
prefix
indicating a plagal mode in musicHypodorian
Word Origin for Hypo-
from Greek: beneath (it lies a fourth below the corresponding authentic mode)
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
Scientific definitions for hypo
hypo-
hyp-
A prefix that means beneath or below, as in hypodermic, below the skin. It also means less than normal, especially in medical terms like hypoglycemia. In the names of chemical compounds, it means at the lowest state of oxidation, as in sodium hypochlorite.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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