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

Officials warn that water below 70 degrees is cold enough to cause hypothermia if a person is exposed to the conditions for a long enough period of time.

From Los Angeles Times

Kate said she was worried he could suffer the cold effects of hypothermia and managed to get a survival bag over to help him.

From BBC

Several injuries were reported across the country, including two people suffering from hypothermia and two others who sustained leg injuries.

From BBC

Central to the prosecution's case was that Victoria had died from hypothermia or by being smothered while co-sleeping in a small, thin tent in cold, damp and windy conditions in January 2023.

From BBC

Along with the helmsman, three coastguards who entered the water to carry out the rescue suffered from water ingestion, mild hypothermia, exhaustion and one had an ankle injury.

From BBC