hypo|der|mic /ha I pədɜː r m I k/ (hypodermics ) ADJ [ADJ n] A hypodermic needle or syringe is a medical instrument with a hollow needle, which is used to give injections. ● N‑COUNT Hypodermic is also a noun. □ He held up a hypodermic to check the dosage.
hy|pot|enuse /ha I pɒ tənjuːz, [AM ] -nuːs/ (hypotenuses ) N‑COUNT The hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle is the side opposite its right angle. [TECHNICAL ]
hypo|thala|mus /ha I pəθæ ləməs/ (hypothalami /ha I pəθæ ləma I /) N‑COUNT [usu sing] The hypothalamus is a part of the brain that links the nervous system to the glands in the body that produce hormones. It is involved in controlling emotions, hunger, thirst, and sleep. [TECHNICAL ]
hypo|ther|mia /ha I poʊθɜː r miə/ N‑UNCOUNT If someone has hypothermia , their body temperature has become dangerously low as a result of being in severe cold for a long time. [MEDICAL ]
hy|poth|esis /ha I pɒ θ I s I s/ (hypotheses ) N‑VAR A hypothesis is an idea which is suggested as a possible explanation for a particular situation or condition, but which has not yet been proved to be correct. [FORMAL ] □ Work will now begin to test the hypothesis in rats.
hy|poth|esize /ha I pɒ θ I sa I z/ (hypothesizes , hypothesizing , hypothesized ) in BRIT, also use hypothesise VERB If you hypothesize that something will happen, you say that you think that thing will happen because of various facts you have considered. [FORMAL ] □ [V that] To explain this, they hypothesise that galaxies must contain a great deal of missing matter which cannot be detected. □ [V n] I have long hypothesized a connection between these factors. [Also V ]
hypo|theti|cal /ha I pəθe t I k ə l/ ADJ If something is hypothetical , it is based on possible ideas or situations rather than actual ones. □ Ed poses a series of hypothetical situations to see what Mitch would be willing to do if he knew no one would find out. □ …a purely hypothetical question. ● hypo|theti|cal|ly /ha I pəθe t I kli/ ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □ He was invariably willing to discuss the possibilities hypothetically.
hys|ter|ec|to|my /h I stəre ktəmi/ (hysterectomies ) N‑COUNT A hysterectomy is a surgical operation to remove a woman's womb.
hys|te|ria /h I st I ə riə, [AM ] -ste r-/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Hysteria among a group of people is a state of uncontrolled excitement, anger, or panic. □ No one could help getting carried away by the hysteria.
2 N‑UNCOUNT A person who is suffering from hysteria is in a state of violent and disturbed emotion as a result of shock. [MEDICAL ] □ By now, she was screaming, completely overcome with hysteria.
hys|teri|cal /h I ste r I k ə l/
1 ADJ Someone who is hysterical is in a state of uncontrolled excitement, anger, or panic. □ The singer had to leave by a side exit to flee 200 hysterical fans. ● hys|teri|cal|ly /h I ste r I kli/ ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj/adv] □ I don't think we can go round screaming hysterically: 'Ban these dogs. Muzzle all dogs.'
2 ADJ Someone who is hysterical is in a state of violent and disturbed emotion that is usually a result of shock. □ I suffered bouts of really hysterical depression. ● hys|teri|cal|ly ADV □ I was curled up on the floor in a corner sobbing hysterically.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Hysterical laughter is loud and uncontrolled. [INFORMAL ] □ I had to rush to the loo to avoid an attack of hysterical giggles. ● hys|teri|cal|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ She says she hasn't laughed as hysterically since she was 13.
4 ADJ If you describe something or someone as hysterical , you think that they are very funny and they make you laugh a lot. [INFORMAL ] □ Paul Mazursky was Master of Ceremonies, and he was pretty hysterical. ● hys|teri|cal|ly ADV [ADV adj] □ It wasn't supposed to be a comedy but I found it hysterically funny.
hys|ter|ics /h I ste r I ks/
1 N‑PLURAL [oft in N ] If someone is in hysterics or is having hysterics , they are in a state of uncontrolled excitement, anger, or panic. [INFORMAL ] □ I'm sick of your having hysterics, okay?
2 N‑PLURAL [oft in N ] If someone is in hysterics or is having hysterics , they are in a state of violent and disturbed emotion that is usually a result of shock. □ It was such a shock I had hysterics.
3 N‑PLURAL [oft in N ] You can say that someone is in hysterics or is having hysterics when they are laughing loudly in an uncontrolled way. [INFORMAL ] □ He'd often have us all in absolute hysterics.
Ii
I , i /a I / (I's, i's ) N‑VAR I is the ninth letter of the English alphabet.
I ◆◆◆ /a I / PRON A speaker or writer uses I to refer to himself or herself. I is a first person singular pronoun. I is used as the subject of a verb. □ Jim and I are getting married. □ She liked me, I think.
ibid CONVENTION Ibid is used in books and journals to indicate that a piece of text taken from somewhere else is from the same source as the previous piece of text.
SUFFIX -ibility
1 replaces -ible at the end of adjectives to form nouns referring to the state or quality described by the adjective. For example, their commitment to increase the accessibility of the arts.
2 replaces -ible at the end of adjectives to form nouns that refer to a particular state or quality. For example, responsibility is the state of being responsible.
SUFFIX -ible
forms adjectives that indicate what someone or something can have done to them. For example, if a number is divisible , it is possible to divide it.