hypothermia

[hahy-puh-thur-mee-uh]

noun

1. Pathology.,  subnormal body temperature.

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

hypothermia

/ ˌhaɪpəʊˈθɜːmɪə /

noun

1. pathol an abnormally low body temperature, as induced in the elderly by exposure to cold weather

2. 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

hypothermia

1. An abnormally low body temperature, often caused by prolonged exposure to cold.

2. Compare hyperthermia

Other Word Forms

• hypothermic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hypothermia¹

First recorded in 1885–90; hypo- + therm- + -ia

Example Sentences

She was able to make it back to shore, and was also transported to the local hospital and treated for mild hypothermia.

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The woman was listed in stable condition with mild hypothermia.

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She was able to get back to shore on her own and was treated at a hospital for mild hypothermia.

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"He fell into a stream several times trying to scramble back up, so was at risk of hypothermia."

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He was exhausted and had hypothermia when he was rescued at 11:30 BST on Saturday, a rescue team spokesperson said.

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