Adjacent Words

hypertonic definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: (of living tissue) in a state of abnormally high tension; "hypertonic muscle tissue" [ant: hypotonic]
2: (of a solution) having a higher osmotic pressure than a comparison solution [ant: hypotonic, isosmotic, isotonic]

Merriam Webster's

adjective Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary Date: 1855 1. exhibiting excessive tone or tension <a hypertonic baby> <a hypertonic bladder> 2. having a higher osmotic pressure than a surrounding medium or a fluid under comparison

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. 1 (of muscles) having high tension. 2 (of a solution) having a greater osmotic pressure than another solution. Derivatives: hypertonia n. (in sense 1). hypertonicity n.