hypotonic
Americanadjective
-
Physiology. (of tissue) having less than the normal tone.
-
Physical Chemistry. noting a solution of lower osmotic pressure than another solution with which it is compared (opposed to hypertonic).
adjective
-
pathol (of muscles) lacking normal tone or tension
-
(of a solution) having a lower osmotic pressure than that of a specified, generally physiological, solution Compare hypertonic isotonic
Other Word Forms
- hypotonicity noun
Etymology
Origin of hypotonic
Compare meaning
How does hypotonic compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Vocabulary lists containing hypotonic
Cell Biology - High School
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Chemistry - High School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
What tends to happen to cells in a hypotonic environment?
From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022
Some organisms, such as plants, fungi, bacteria, and some protists, have cell walls that surround the plasma membrane and prevent cell lysis in a hypotonic solution.
From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022
Cells are then made to swell using a hypotonic solution so the chromosomes spread apart.
From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022
In contrast, a solution that has a lower concentration of solutes than another solution is said to be hypotonic, and water molecules tend to diffuse out of a hypotonic solution.
From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013
Under the influence of such a hypotonic solution the dry cells rapidly swell up, burst, and are dissolved.
From The Mechanism of Life by Leduc, Stéphane
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
