hypoxic

[ hahy-pok-sik ]

adjective

1. having or caused by a very low level of oxygen:

   The hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico is caused by excess nutrients, mainly nitrogen from fertilizer runoff.

   Some brain structures are believed to be particularly vulnerable to hypoxic damage during birth.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hypoxic¹

First recorded in 1940–45; hypox(ia) ( def ) + -ic ( def )

Example Sentences

When the algae decays, it consumes oxygen, making the lake hypoxic — a dead zone without oxygen to support marine life.

From Los Angeles Times

"Hypoxic brain injury can have devastating, lifelong consequences, and we suggest our novel therapeutic approach using intravenous omega-3 emulsions could markedly reduce these adverse outcomes," says Richard Deckelbaum, a professor of nutrition and pediatrics and a coordinating author of the study.

From Science Daily

"We need to find another treatment for hypoxic brain injury that will be much more effective and feasible than therapeutic cooling and can be used in the immediate hours after the injury when therapy is likely to be most effective," says Hylde Zirpoli, an associate research scientist in Deckelbaum's group and senior author of the study.

From Science Daily

The researchers gave the therapy to week-old mice and rats with hypoxic brain injury.

From Science Daily

Everest included sleeping at home with their heads in hypoxic tents meant to mimic the agonies of extreme altitude, reached the world’s highest summit on Wednesday.

From Los Angeles Times