definitions

hypothermia

[ hahy-puh-thur-mee-uh ]
/ ˌhaɪ pəˈθɜr mi ə /
|

noun

Pathology. subnormal body temperature.
Medicine/Medical. the artificial reduction of body temperature to slow metabolic processes, as for facilitating heart surgery.

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Hyper vs. HypoLet’s start from the top: Hyper- is a prefix that means excess or exaggeration, while hypo- is another prefix that means under or beneath. Both hyper and hypo are usually used as prefixes, which are elements or partial words added to the beginning of a base word to modify its meaning. Hyper is derived from the Greek word for over, and hypo is a Greek …
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Nearby words

hypothecate, hypothecium, hypothenar, hypothenuse, hypothermal, hypothermia, hypotheses, hypothesis, hypothesis testing, hypothesise, hypothesize

Origin of hypothermia

First recorded in 1885–90; hypo- + therm- + -ia
Related formshy·po·ther·mic, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for hypothermia

British Dictionary definitions for hypothermia

hypothermia

/ (ˌhaɪpəʊˈθɜːmɪə) /

noun

pathol an abnormally low body temperature, as induced in the elderly by exposure to cold weather
med the intentional reduction of normal body temperature, as by ice packs, to reduce the patient's metabolic rate: performed esp in heart and brain surgery
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

Word Origin and History for hypothermia

hypothermia

n.

1877, Modern Latin, from hypo- "under" (see hypo-) + Greek therme "heat" (see thermal).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Medicine definitions for hypothermia

hypothermia

[ hī′pə-thûr′mē-ə ]

n.

Abnormally low body temperature.
Related formshy′po•ther′mic (-mĭk) adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Science definitions for hypothermia

hypothermia

[ hī′pə-thûr′mē-ə ]

An abnormally low body temperature, often caused by prolonged exposure to cold. Compare hyperthermia.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.