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Medicine vocabulary · Diseases by System

Dehydration

Meaning in medicine, with examples

/ˌdiːhaɪˈdreɪʃən/nounCore term

In medicine, dehydration means: A state in which the body has lost more water than it has taken in, so it no longer has enough fluid to work normally.

In Turkish: dehidratasyon, sıvı kaybı

How it is used

Common with vomiting, diarrhea, fever and hot weather, especially in babies and older people. Doctors look for a dry mouth, low urine output, sunken eyes and a fast pulse, and describe it as mild, moderate or severe.

Example sentences

  1. The baby showed signs of dehydration after two days of diarrhea.

  2. Her kidney function has worsened because of dehydration.

Common collocations

  • severe dehydration
  • signs of dehydration
  • mild dehydration
  • become dehydrated
  • vomitingBringing up the contents of the stomach through the mouth; it often follows nausea but can also happen without warning.
  • diarrheaPassing loose or watery stools more often than usual, typically three or more times a day.
  • intravenousGiven directly into a vein, usually through a thin plastic tube called a cannula, as with fluids, antibiotics or pain relief.
  • feverA body temperature higher than normal, usually above about 38 °C, often a sign that the body is fighting an infection.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Diseases by System

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.