cryopreservation

noun

The preservation of biological tissue at cryogenic temperatures, typically at -80°C (dry ice temperature) or -196°C (the boiling point of liquid nitrogen).

OriginAncient Greek κρύος →
UncommonScrabble 26
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Meanings

nouncryopreservation (countable and uncountable, plural cryopreservations)

plural cryopreservations

  1. countableuncountableThe preservation of biological tissue at cryogenic temperatures, typically at -80°C (dry ice temperature) or -196°C (the boiling point of liquid nitrogen).

    Although I do not have access to the medical details of Kim's cryopreservation, I find hope in the New York Times report that there was imaging evidence that the outer layers of Kim's brain were successfully cryopreserved.

    2019, Susan Schneider, Artificial You: AI and the Future of Your Mind, Princeton University Press, page 145

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
coldsleep

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekκρύος“icy cold, chill, frost”
  2. Englishcryopreservation

From cryo- + preservation, from Ancient Greek κρύος (krúos, “icy cold, chill, frost”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Italian crioconservazione
  • crioconservazionepreservation of biological tissue
Spanish criopreservación
  • criopreservaciónpreservation of biological tissue
Cite this entry
APA

cryopreservation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cryopreservation

MLA

“cryopreservation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cryopreservation. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cryopreservation,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cryopreservation.

Source: cryopreservation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.