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hypoxia

[ hahy-pok-see-uh ]
/ haɪˈpɒk si ə /
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noun
Biology. a very low level of oxygen, as in an organic environment: The fish have developed a tolerance to the hypoxia of the swamp.
Pathology. an abnormally low amount of oxygen in the body tissues: Premature newborns are routinely placed in incubators to treat or prevent hypoxia.Compare anoxia (def. 2), hypoxemia.

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Origin of hypoxia

First recorded in 1940–45; hyp- + oxy-2 + -ia

OTHER WORDS FROM hypoxia

hy·pox·ic, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use hypoxia in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hypoxia

hypoxia
/ (haɪˈpɒksɪə) /

noun
deficiency in the amount of oxygen delivered to the body tissues

Derived forms of hypoxia

hypoxic (haɪˈpɒksɪk), adjective

Word Origin for hypoxia

C20: from hypo- + oxy- ² + -ia
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
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