hypotonic
|hi-po-ton-ic|
🇺🇸
/ˌhaɪpəˈtoʊnɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˌhaɪpəˈtɒnɪk/
low tension / low osmotic pressure
Etymology
'hypotonic' originates from the combining form 'hypo-' (Greek) and 'tonic' from Greek 'tonos', where 'hypo-' meant 'under, below' and 'tonos' meant 'stretching, tension'.
'hypo-' + 'tonic' were combined in New Latin/medical terminology to form 'hypotonic', and the word entered English usage in scientific and medical contexts in the 19th century.
Initially used in the general sense of 'under tension' or 'reduced tension'; over time it became specialized in physiology and medicine to mean 'having lower osmotic pressure' and, separately, 'exhibiting reduced muscle tone'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a hypotonic solution (a solution that is lower in osmotic pressure than another, especially than body fluids).
They diluted the saline to make a hypotonic solution.
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Adjective 1
of a solution: having a lower osmotic pressure than another solution, causing water to move into cells (low osmolarity compared with the reference).
The cells swelled when placed in a hypotonic solution.
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Last updated: 2025/12/10 04:06