noun
hypo
HEYE-poh
noun
1
Informal short form of "hypodermic," referring to a syringe or injection.
"The nurse prepared a hypo for the vaccination."
2
Among people with diabetes, informal short form of "hypoglycemia" — a sudden drop in blood sugar.
"She felt shaky and realized she was having a hypo."
How to Use Hypo
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCasual shorthand for either a syringe/injection or a low-blood-sugar episode, depending on context.
When to use it
Informal; the meaning depends heavily on context (medical slang differs from photography slang, "hypo" fixer, etc.).
Word Forms
hypoed past tense, hypos plural, hypos singular
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Etymology
A clipped form of various words beginning with hypo- ("under"), from Greek hupo.