hyperthermia

noun

hy·​per·​ther·​mia ˌhī-pər-ˈthər-mē-ə How to pronounce hyperthermia (audio)
: exceptionally high fever especially when induced artificially for therapeutic purposes
hyperthermic adjective

Examples of hyperthermia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In 2000, 15-year-old William Edward Lee died from a head injury after being restrained by staff; 14-year-old Ian August died of hyperthermia at his wilderness therapy program two years later. Sara M Moniuszko, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2024 An autopsy determined that the cause of death was hyperthermia due to being left in a car, officials said. Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 6 July 2023 Outside of serious conditions like hypothermia (or its opposite, hyperthermia), Zaslow explained that most people are temperature-regulated unless there’s an abnormality. Korin Miller, Health, 19 Jan. 2024 The child’s cause of death is hyperthermia due to being left in a car, an autopsy determined. Devoun Cetoute Miami Herald (tns), al, 7 July 2023 According to the complaint, several volunteers have already seen migrants suffering from hyperthermia and hypothermia. Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Dec. 2023 Officials suspect those seven individuals died of hyperthermia, an abnormally high body temperature that can lead to several fatal conditions. oregonlive, 30 July 2022 The manner and cause of death were ruled to be accidental hyperthermia, according to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. Morgan Winsor, ABC News, 17 July 2023 According to the Harris County Institute for Forensic Sciences, the couple died from hyperthermia. Brian Brant, Peoplemag, 8 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hyperthermia.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from hyper- + therm- + -ia

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hyperthermia was in 1887

Dictionary Entries Near hyperthermia

Cite this Entry

“Hyperthermia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hyperthermia. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

hyperthermia

noun
hy·​per·​ther·​mia ˌhī-pər-ˈthər-mē-ə How to pronounce hyperthermia (audio)
1
: elevated temperature of the body (as that occurring in heatstroke) see malignant hyperthermia
2
: the artificial heating of all or part of the body (as in diathermy) for therapeutic purposes (as to treat cancer)
hyperthermic adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on hyperthermia

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