hypotonic

adjective hy·po·ton·ic \ˌhī-pə-ˈtä-nik, -pō-\

Definition of HYPOTONIC

: having deficient tone or tension <hypotonic children>

: having a lower osmotic pressure than a surrounding medium or a fluid under comparison <hypotonic organisms>

— hy·po·to·nic·i·ty \-tə-ˈni-sə-tē\ noun

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use: 1895

Medical Dictionary

adjective hy·po·ton·ic \ˌhī-pə-ˈtän-ik, -pō-\

: having deficient tone or tension <hypotonic children>

: having a lower osmotic pressure than a surrounding medium or a fluid under comparison <a hypotonic solution>—compare hypertonic 2, isotonic 1

—hy·po·ton·i·cal·ly \-i-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

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