cryoprotectant
(s) (noun), cryoprotectants
(pl)
A substance that is used to shield something from the effects of freezing: Cryoprotectants act largely by preventing large ice crystals from forming. The two commonly used for freezing cells are DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) or glycerol.
cryoprotection
(s) (noun), cryoprotections
(pl)
The protection of biological tissues from the effects of cold: In order for cryoprotection to work successfully, a cryoprotectant is necessary.
cryoprotective
(adjective), more cryoprotective, most cryoprotective
Referring to the capability to protect against injury due to freezing: Glycerol is a cryoprotective agent that protects frozen red blood cells.
cryoprotein
(s) (noun), cryoproteins /pl)
Any kind of protein that is not so soluble in a cold liquid substance: A cryoprotein precipitates from a solution when it is cooled and then redissolves when it is rewarmed.
cryopulvinectomy
(s) (noun), cryopulvinectomies
(pl)
Destruction of the pulvinar by the application of extreme cold: Judy read in her book on medicine that cryopulvinectomy in surgery used extreme cold in order to remove the cushion-like part of the thalamus.
cryopump
(s) (noun), cryopumps
(pl)
A device designed to produce an ultrahigh vacuum by the condensation or adsorption of a gas at a very low temperature: A cryopump is an instrument that takes hold of vapours and gases by condensing them on a very cold surface which is usually below 77 Kelvin.
cryosar
(s) (noun), cryosars
(pl)
A cryogenic semiconductor device designed for very high-speed computer switching and memory applications: Mr. Atherton needed a cryosar to. improve the computer switching to a faster tempo.
cryoscope, kryoscope
(s) (noun); cryoscopes; kryoscopes
(pl)
An instrument for measuring the freezing point: A cryoscope can be used to assess the exact point of freezing, either of a liquid or of of the melting point of a solid.
cryoscopic, cryoscopical
(adjective) (not comparable)
Relating to the results of a cryoscope: When Jill was studying physical chemistry, she had to check her cryoscopic solutions of the various fluids after using a cryoscope.
cryoscopy, kryoscopy
(s) (noun); cryoscopies; kryoscopies
(pl)
The assessment of the point of freezing of a liquid by using a cryoscope; algoscopy: A
cryoscopy is the determination of the freezing point of a fluid, usually blood or urine, compared with that of distilled water.
A cryoscopy can also be explained as the examination of liquids, based on the principle that the freezing point of solutions varies according to the amount and the nature of the substance contained in them in solution.
cryoseism
(s) (noun), cryoseisms
(pl)
A frost quake; a seismic occurrence involving a glacier movement: In her geology magazine, Sherry read about a cryoseism caused by the sudden cracking action in frozen fissures of rock which were filled with ice.
cryosistor
(s) (noun), cryosistors
(pl)
A cryogenic semiconductor device: A cryosistor can, after ionization, act as a three-terminal switch, a pulse amplifier, an oscillator, or a unipolar transistor.
cryosorption, cryosorb
(s) (noun); cryosorptions; cryosorbs
(pl)
The assimilation of a gas onto the very cold surface of a cryopump: A
cryosorption is the process of capturing a gas on or in a material that has a very large surface and that has been cooled to a very low temperature.
The weak attractive force between the gas and surface is enhanced by the low temperature.
cryospasm
(s) (noun), cryospasms
(pl)
Muscle contractions produced by cold: Mr. Tall had to be very careful when he went outside in the freezing winter because he sometimes suffered from cryospasms which were extremely painful.
cryosphere
(s) (noun), cryospheres
(pl)
The region, or portion, of the Earth’s surface that is characteristically covered by snow and ice and so frozen throughout the year: Studies of the extent and status of the cryosphere can provide insights into the present and the past climate changes.
You may take a self-scoring quiz over some of the words in this section by clicking on this cryo-, kryo- quiz to check your word knowledge or learn more about the words in this unit.
Cross references of word families that are related directly or indirectly to "winter, freezing, frost, and/or cold":
algid- (cold, chilly);
cheimo-, chimo- (winter, cold);
crymo-, krymo- (cold, chill, frost);
frigo-, frig- (cold, frost);
gel-, gelati- (freeze, frost, congeal);
hiber- (winter, wintry);
pago- (cold, freezing);
psychro- (cold);
rhigo- (cold, frost; shiver).
