hypertonic solution
- noun
- /ˌhaɪpərˈtoʊnɪk səˈluːʃən/
- Specialized
:
solución hipertónica
- In biology class, we learned that a hypertonic solution causes cells to lose water and shrink.
Examples
-
I gave him a hypertonic solution.
-
I gave him a hypertonic solution.
Fiction book (1999) -
The doctor explained that a hypertonic solution would help reduce the swelling by drawing excess fluid out of the cells.
-
To treat the patient effectively, we used a hypertonic solution, which made the cells release water through osmosis.
Antonyms
- Specialized
A liquid with fewer dissolved substances than another so cells take in water
How Concentrated
Surface Forms
Morphology
The adjective 'hypertonic' specifies a property of the liquid (higher solute concentration that draws water out of cells) and 'solution' names the liquid mixture, so the full meaning is directly compositional. Although technical, the modifier+noun structure and the cross-linguistically common 'hyper-' (above/more) logic make the sense inferable for a learner who knows both constituents.
Etymology
The noun hypertonic solution describes a liquid that is saltier than the inside of a cell, so water moves out and the cell shrinks. Here hypertonic means 'saltier' and solution means 'liquid', so the phrase means 'making cells lose water and shrink'.
