Definition

A medical condition where the body temperature drops to a dangerously low level, which can be life-threatening.

Example

After falling into the icy water, he suffered from hypothermia and needed immediate medical attention.

Conversation

Did you hear about the hiker who got lost in the snow?

Yeah, I heard he suffered from hypothermia before they found him.

That's so scary! I can't believe how quickly it can happen.

Right? It just shows how important it is to stay warm in cold weather.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Hypothermia is formed from "hypo-" (meaning under or below) and "thermia" (from Greek "thermē", meaning heat). The word describes a condition where the body temperature is below the normal level, indicating a lack of heat.

Memory Tip

Think of 'hypo-' meaning 'under' and 'thermia' relating to 'heat' — this helps you remember that hypothermia is a state of having too little heat.

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