hypo

¹ American  

[hahy-poh] / ˈhaɪ poʊ /

noun

Archaic.

1. hypochondria.

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hypo ² American  

[hahy-poh] / ˈhaɪ poʊ /

noun

1. sodium thiosulfate.

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hypo ³ American  

[hahy-poh] / ˈhaɪ poʊ /

noun

PLURAL

hypos

1. a hypodermic syringe or injection.

2. a stimulus or boost.

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verb (used with object)

1. to administer a hypodermic injection to.

2. to stimulate by or as if by administering a hypodermic injection.

3. to increase, boost, or augment.

   to hypo the car's power by installing a bigger engine.

hypo- ⁴ American  

1. 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 ).

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hypo- ¹ British  

prefix

1. under, beneath, or below

   hypodermic

2. lower; at a lower point

   hypogastrium

3. less than

   hypoploid

4. (in medicine) denoting a deficiency or an abnormally low level

   hypothyroid

   hypoglycaemia

5. incomplete or partial

   hypoplasia

6. indicating that a chemical compound contains an element in a lower oxidation state than usual

   hypochlorous acid

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Hypo- ² British  

prefix

1. indicating a plagal mode in music

   Hypodorian

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hypo ³ British  

/ ˈhaɪpəʊ /

noun

1. another name for sodium thiosulphate, esp when used as a fixer in photographic developing

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hypo ⁴ British  

/ ˈhaɪpəʊ /

noun

1. short for hypodermic syringe

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hypo– Scientific  

1. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of hypo¹

First recorded in 1700–10; by shortening

Origin of hypo¹

First recorded in 1855–60; shortening of hyposulfite

Origin of hypo¹

First recorded in 1900–05; by shortening of hypodermic; sense “stimulate” perhaps by association with hype ¹; -o

Origin of hypo-¹

< Greek, combining form of hypó under (preposition), below (adv.); cognate with Latin sub ( sub- ); up

Example Sentences

The justices often use “hypos” to test legal theories and the limits of a party’s argument.

From Washington Post

The tobacco, spoon, hypo, cotton swab and matches were to satisfy Holmes’s vilest habits, often indulged after a successful deduction.

From Washington Post

Being halfway up a mountain when you have a hypo - a low-blood sugar episode that can cause dizziness, disorientation and even unconsciousness - is far from ideal.

From BBC

You can learn more about the diagnosis and treatment of hypo- and hyperthyroidism in our eGuide to Thyroid Hormones.

From Seattle Times

It has been said quite often of Pete Reiser, and by no less a person than Branch Rickey, that the kid is somewhat of a “hypo,” meaning hypochondriac.

From Seattle Times