Dehydrated
ˌdiːˈhaɪdreɪtɪd
Definitions
2 meaningsSuffering from a lack of water in the body, or having had the water removed.
ˌdiːˈhaɪdreɪtɪd
Having lost too much water from the body or from food.
After the marathon, many runners were dehydrated and needed IV fluids.
💡 Simply: Imagine you've been running around all day and haven't had a drink. You feel tired and your mouth is dry, that means you are dehydrated! It's like when a plant doesn't get enough water and starts to droop. This word helps explain why you feel this way.
👶 For kids: When your body needs water and it doesn't have enough, you're dehydrated!
More Examples
Symptoms of being dehydrated include dizziness and extreme thirst.
Dried fruits, such as raisins, are examples of dehydrated foods.
How It's Used
"The doctor diagnosed the patient as severely dehydrated after the long hike."
"Dehydrated fruits are popular as snacks due to their long shelf life and concentrated flavor."
To cause (a person or thing) to lose water or moisture; to dry out.
ˌdiːˈhaɪdreɪt
To cause someone or something to lose water.
The heat and lack of water caused the hikers to dehydrate.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're making raisins; you are dehydrating the grapes to remove the water and make them into this new food! The word means to take the water out from something.
👶 For kids: To make something lose its water, like the sun drying up a puddle.
More Examples
Manufacturers often dehydrate food to extend its shelf life.
Doctors sometimes prescribe oral rehydration solutions for patients who dehydrate.
How It's Used
"The illness caused the patient to dehydrate rapidly."
"The food processing company dehydrates fruits and vegetables for preservation."
Idioms & expressions
dehydration crisis
A situation where many people or animals are severely dehydrated, usually due to lack of water or disease.
"The aid workers struggled to address the dehydration crisis caused by the drought."
From de- (meaning 'remove') + hydrate (from Greek hydōr, meaning 'water'). The term originated in the late 19th century, initially in the context of chemical processes before being applied to the human body.
The term 'dehydrate' and 'dehydration' began to appear in scientific and medical literature towards the end of the 19th century, with early references in relation to chemical processes and later regarding the human body.
Memory tip
Think of a desert; the lack of rain leaves everything dehydrated.
Word Origin
"water"