HYPOTONICITY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does hypotonicity mean? 

• HYPOTONICITY (noun)
  The noun HYPOTONICITY has 2 senses:

1. (of a solution) the extent to which a solution has a lower osmotic pressure than some other

2. (of muscular tissue) the state of being hypotonic

  Familiarity information: HYPOTONICITY used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HYPOTONICITY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(of a solution) the extent to which a solution has a lower osmotic pressure than some other

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("hypotonicity" is a kind of...):

osmotic pressure ((physical chemistry) the pressure exerted by a solution necessary to prevent osmosis into that solution when it is separated from the pure solvent by a semipermeable membrane)

Antonym:

hypertonicity ((of a solution) the extent to which a solution has a higher osmotic pressure than some other)

Derivation:

hypotonic ((of a solution) having a lower osmotic pressure than a comparison solution)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(of muscular tissue) the state of being hypotonic

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

hypotonia; hypotonicity; hypotonus

Hypernyms ("hypotonicity" is a kind of...):

tone; tonicity; tonus (the elastic tension of living muscles, arteries, etc. that facilitate response to stimuli)

Antonym:

hypertonicity ((of muscular tissue) the state of being hypertonic)

Derivation:

hypotonic ((of living tissue) lacking normal tone or tension)

 Context examples 

Symptoms include central nervous system impairment such as as delirium with prominent symptoms of personality change, cognitive dysfunction, disorientation, incoherent speech, and psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions, smooth muscle hypotonicity, and altered cardiovascular function.

(Hypercalcemia of Malignancy, NCI Thesaurus)