oxy-, -oxia, -oxic

Concerning plants that thrive in an acidic habitat: When Mrs. Hathaway was at the nursery, she asked about some flowers that were oxyphytic and would grow in her garden with alkaline soil.

1. Sharp-nosed, sharp-snouted: For her report on frogs, Meg decided to sketch a picture of an oxyrhine frog which had a very sharp snout.
2. Possessing an acute sense of smell: Lois thought her sister was oxyrhine because of her overwhelming and keen perception of odors or aromas of things with her olfactory sense!

Sharp-snouted; sharp billed: Some of the crabs in North America are oxyrhynchous, as the spider crabs.

1. The lithosphere; The oxysphere can be described as the solid, outer layer of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.
2. The geosphere: The combination of the earth’s lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere makes up the oxysphere.

In biology, pertaining to the movement of an organism moving towards an oxygen stimulus: Oxytatic microorganisms are those that instinctively glide in the direction of a supply of oxygen.

A directed response of a motile organism to an oxygen stimulus: Tests have shown that marine larvae tend to avoid their habitat in low oxygen areas and orient themselves towards a supply of oxygen, and this reaction is termed oxytaxis.

Concerning a person who has a quick temper: Peggy's sister seemed to be easily riled and angered and her mother termed her conduct as being oxythymous.

Referring to, or characterizing the acceleration of labor and childbirth: An oxytocic medication or drug was used to hasten the delivery of Susan's baby.

1. A hormone produced by the hypothalamus that is stored and released by the pituitary gland; pitocin: Oxytacin causes contractions of the uterus and the release of milk from the mammary glands.

Oxytocin is a smooth muscle contraction-stimulating hormone found in the neurohypophysis.

The hormone oxytocin is made in the brain and plays a role in childbirth and lactation by causing muscles to contract in the uterus (womb) and the mammary glands in the breast. Animal studies have shown that oxytocin also plays a role in pair bonding, mate-guarding, and social memory.

Oxytocin is related to another hormone called vasopressin.
2. In pharmacy, a synthetic form of the hormone that is important in childbirth: Oxytocin is obtained from beef and hog pituitary glands, or especially by synthesis, and used chiefly in obstetrics to induce labor and to control postnatal hemorrhage.
3. Nasally administered hormone: Oxytocin has played a role in generating trust in humans.

In a 2005 study, it was shown that in a risky investment game, experimental subjects given oxytocin displayed what the researchers deemed "the highest level of trust" twice as often as the control group who were given placebos.

The same experiment with the subjects who were told that they were interacting with a computer showed no such reaction, leading to the conclusion that oxytocin was not merely affecting risk-aversion.

4. A hormone with various anti-stress functions: Oxytocin is noted to reduce blood pressure and cortisol levels in addition. to increasing tolerance to pain and reducing anxiety.

Oxytocin may play a role in encouraging "tend and befriend", as opposed to a "fight or flight", behavior in response to stress.

Regarding the response of a biological organism to the presence of oxygen: The plant's roots oriented themselves in the soil not only by gravitropism, hydrotropism, and thigmotropism, but also in an oxytropic way, also termed oxytropism.

An orientational response to an oxygen gradient stimulus: By using containers with good soil for growing plants, oxytropsm enables roots to avoid soil that is devoid of oxygen.

An agent that destroys pinworms: Oxyuricide is used to kill worms of the genus Oxyuris.

In zoology, referring to an organism with a pointed tail: Janet found out that oxyurous was a very rare term used to describe an animal with a pointed behind or with a long slender and sharply pointed appendage extending beyond the behind of an animal, like the armadillo.

1. A reference to an increase of the acuteness or severity of a disease: Valerie's aunt was known to have spells of paroxysmal coughing which recurred periodically.
2. Relating to violent actions or emotions: Fits, extreme laughter or excitement, rage, and terror are paroxysmal responses to certain situations.
3. Pertaining to violent or convulsive physical actions: Examples of such paroxysmal activities include earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.