overhydration
|o-ver-hy-dra-tion|
🇺🇸
/ˌoʊvərhaɪˈdreɪʃən/
🇬🇧
/ˌəʊvəhaɪˈdreɪʃ(ə)n/
excessive water
Etymology
'overhydration' originates from English, formed by the prefix 'over-' (meaning 'excessive' or 'too much') combined with 'hydration' (from 'hydrate' + '-ation'); 'hydrate' ultimately traces back to Greek 'hydōr' meaning 'water'.
'hydration' comes via Modern Latin/French-influenced forms from Greek 'hydōr' ('water'), producing 'hydrate' in modern scientific English; adding the noun-forming suffix '-ation' gave 'hydration'; the productive English prefix 'over-' was then attached to create 'overhydration'.
Initially, 'hydration' in chemistry meant the addition or presence of water (or hydrogen+oxygen) in a compound or material; over time it broadened to include physiological fluid balance. 'Overhydration' specifically came to mean an excess of water in a system, especially used in medical contexts to denote water intoxication.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a condition in which the body or a part of the body contains too much water, often causing an imbalance of electrolytes (commonly causing hyponatremia); in clinical contexts often called water intoxication.
Overhydration can cause hyponatremia, leading to nausea, headache, seizures, or even coma in severe cases.
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Noun 2
excessive addition or absorption of water in a substance or material (e.g., soils, polymers, chemical processes) beyond the intended or optimal level.
Overhydration of the cement mix weakened the final structure, causing cracks after drying.
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Last updated: 2025/09/07 20:55