heatstroke

noun heat·stroke \ ˈhēt-ˌstrōk \

|Updated on: 18 Jun 2018

Definition of heatstroke

: a life-threatening condition marked especially by cessation of sweating, extremely high body temperature, and collapse that results from prolonged exposure to high temperature — compare heat exhaustion, sunstroke

See heatstroke defined for English-language learners

See heatstroke defined for kids

Recent Examples of heatstroke from the Web

In 2014, Morgan State freshmen defensive lineman Marquese Meadow died of heatstroke after a preseason practice, according to an autopsy.

— edward lee, baltimoresun.com, "Maryland offensive lineman Jordan McNair (McDonogh) dies two weeks after collapsing in team workout," 13 June 2018
The council released a report this month that says 742 US children died of heatstroke in vehicles between 1998 and 2017.

— maritza moulite, CNN, "37 US children die in hot cars each year, report says," 12 June 2018
O’Connor is referring to the 749 children who died from vehicular heatstroke since 1998, according to data from NoHeatStroke.org.

— cydney henderson, azcentral, "Phoenix father creates app to prevent children from dying in hot cars," 27 May 2018
Children are particularly susceptible to heatstroke.

— jamie ducharme, Time, "This Is How Long It Takes a Hot Car to Reach Dangerous Temperatures," 25 May 2018
Nearly 750 children have died of heatstroke in the U.S. since 1998, according to NoHeatStroke.org.

— scott berson, charlotteobserver, "Hot cars can kill kids in one hour - and parking in the shade doesn't help much | Charlotte Observer," 25 May 2018
The children were in the car for two hours and died of heatstroke, authorities said.

— prescotte stokes iii, star-telegram, "She admitted a role in her children's deaths, but a jury said she was reckless | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 16 May 2018
According to Janjua there were at least 24 cases of heatstroke on Monday, including some in which individuals passed out.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Pakistan’s Searing April Temperatures Set New Global Record," 3 May 2018
The temperature reached 96 degrees that day and the children died from heatstroke, officials said.

— elaine aradillas, PEOPLE.com, "Texas Mom Gets 20 Years After Hot Car Deaths of Children She Locked Inside to Teach a 'Lesson'," 1 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'heatstroke.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of heatstroke

1874

in the meaning defined above

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HEATSTROKE Defined for English Language Learners

heatstroke

noun

Definition of heatstroke for English Language Learners

medical : a serious condition that happens when someone has been in high temperatures for a long time and that causes a person to stop sweating, have a very high body temperature, and become exhausted or unconscious

Medical Dictionary

heatstroke

noun heat·stroke \ ˈhēt-ˌstrōk \

medical Definition of heatstroke

: a life-threatening condition characterized by cessation of sweating with inadequate elimination of body heat, extremely high temperature, rapid pulse, hot dry skin, flaccid muscles, delirium, collapse, and coma and resulting from prolonged exposure to high environmental temperature which causes a dysfunction of the temperature-regulating mechanism of the body — see sunstroke — compare heat exhaustion

Learn More about heatstroke

See words that rhyme with heatstroke Nglish: Translation of heatstroke for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about heatstroke

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