oxy-, -oxia, -oxic

1. An instrument that is used to measure oxygen in something; eudiometer: An oximeter can determine the amount of oxygen in a controlled space, such as an oxygen tank or incubator as well as in the atmosphere.
2. A photoelectric instrument used for measuring the degree of oxygen saturation: An oximeter can estimate the amount of oxygen in a fluid, such as in blood.

In medicine, the method of calculating the oxygen saturation level of hemoglobin in blood: A spectrophotometry is used in oximetry to determine the degree of oxygen in circulating arterial blood or in a certain area of tissue.

A noninvasive, electronic device used to determine oxygen concentrations: The oxisensor is applied to a readily accessible place on the body, such as the nose, earlobe, toe, or finger, in order to establish the percentage of hemoglobin in the arterial blood, or the red blood cells that primarily transport oxygen from the lungs to the body tissues.

Regarding the possibility of certain plastics to expedite the decaying process: Unlike "normal" plastics that degrade and disintegrate very slowly, oxo-biodegradable plastics are manufactured to accelerate the destruction of the plastic product, preferably extending the destruction to the extent where the plastic is mineralized into its basic component elements.

Plastic bags which are oxo-biodegradable retain all of the advantages of normal plastic bags and, in addition, they provide effective solutions to the compost and landfill industries with minimal disruption of consumer behavioral patterns.

In botany, flora having sharp spines: Agatha learned in her botany class at college that oxyacanthous plants possessed a structure exhibiting sharp thorns.

Increased sensitiveness to noises, occurring in facial paralysis: Oxyacoia can result especially when the stapedius muscle is paralyzed.

An abnormal sensitivity to sounds, sometimes found in hysteria, in which hearing is abnormally acute: Dr. Ashton's patient often felt like screaming because the oxyacusis that he was experiencing was so painful.

A sharp pain: Because Jane was experiencing a very sudden and abrupt twinge in her body, she asked her doctor who diagnosed her as having oxyalgia and sent her to the hospital for further examinations.

Excessive acuteness of the sense of touch: Because Mary suffered from oxyaphia, particularly when feeling rough surfaces with her finger, she had to wear gloves most of the time, especially when she went shopping.

A stellate sponge spicule having acute rays: Joan finally found a photo of oxyasters, or sharply pointed structures that were necessary as skeletal elements of the star-shaped sponge.

Acuteness of sight; sharp-sightedness: Jack's vision was extremely good because he could detect small objects in the far distance, and his ophthalmologist termed him as having oxyblepsia. due to an increased sensibility of the retina.

Relating to vegetation that has pointed fruit: The Mediterranean herb, the Pimpinella anisum which is quite aromatic, is grown for its oxycarpous seedlike fruits from which a particular oil is obtained.

A conical skull; oxycephaly: Oxycephalia is an abnormal form of the head in which the top part has a pointed shape.

Concerning the bony skeleton of the head having a pointed shape: In her biology class at school, Anita learned that oxycephalic or conical skulls in people were caused by a premature closure of the skull sutures.

Descriptive of something that stains readily with acid dyes; relating to oxychromatin: Cell or tissue elements that are oxychromatic are those that have an affinity for acid dyes, such as eosin.