Meanings
- uncountableThe situation where blood vessels dilated by the heat contract suddenly, when cold water is applied to the skin, leading to cardiac arrest.
Although most swimming accidents occur because of insufficient swimming skills, many are caused by "hydrocution" or "thermodifferential shock."
1987, Roy J. Shephard, The 1987 Year Book of Sports Medicine, →OCLC, page 1341 more example
French firemen warned people to enter the water gradually to accustom the body to temperature changes or risk hydrocution in which blood vessels dilated by the heat contract suddenly, raising the risk of cardiac arrest.
2019 June 26, “Heatwave 'hell' claims first lives as temperatures soar above 40 degrees Celsius across Europe”, in TelegraphSynonyms: cold shock response
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe situation where blood vessels dilated by the heat contract suddenly, when cold water is applied to the skin, leading to cardiac arrest.
Cite this entry
hydrocution. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hydrocution
“hydrocution.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hydrocution. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hydrocution,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hydrocution.
Source: hydrocution on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.