1 sunstroke | Definition of sunstroke

sunstroke

noun
sun·​stroke | \ ˈsən-ˌstrōk How to pronounce sunstroke (audio) \

Definition of sunstroke

: heatstroke caused by direct exposure to the sun broadly : heatstroke

Examples of sunstroke in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The foreman himself came all the way out to the farm to tell my father about the afternoon, the hottest anyone could remember—about the way Tuomas had straightened up as if someone had called his name, before crumpling to the ground with sunstroke. Arna Bontemps Hemenway, The Atlantic, "Wolves of Karelia," 19 July 2019 But when sustained heat waves hit a region, the other health ramifications can be serious, including sunstroke and even major organ damage due to heat. Katherine Harmon, Scientific American, "How Does a Heat Wave Affect the Human Body?," 23 July 2010 The sunstroke weakened his immune system, likely causing the West Nile to develop into meningitis, an infection that inflames the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Gabriel Thompson, Longreads, "Coachella, Underground," 12 Apr. 2018 According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, heatstroke, also called sunstroke, occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature. Leada Gore, AL.com, "How hot is it? 12 heat-related deaths in Alabama last year; officials advise caution," 19 July 2017 There were lots of other threats, too, from getting sunstroke to being kicked by a camel. National Geographic, "A Historic Explorer Leads the Way on an Epic African Journey," 1 Jan. 2017 Deaths attributed to exposure to excessive natural heat -- underlying or contributing cause or both -- are assigned a specific code, and deaths attributed to heatstroke or sunstroke as the contributing cause are given a different code. Herbie Teope, NOLA.com, "'A really long road back:' Exertional heat stroke a silent threat in football," 5 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sunstroke.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of sunstroke

1787, in the meaning defined above

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More Definitions for sunstroke

sunstroke

noun

English Language Learners Definition of sunstroke

medical : a serious condition that happens when someone has been in the sun too long and that causes a person to stop sweating, have a very high body temperature, and become exhausted or unconscious

sunstroke

noun
sun·​stroke | \ ˈsən-ˌstrōk How to pronounce sunstroke (audio) \

Kids Definition of sunstroke

: an illness that is marked by high fever and weakness and is caused by exposure to too much sun

sunstroke

noun
sun·​stroke | \ -ˌstrōk How to pronounce sunstroke (audio) \

Medical Definition of sunstroke

: heatstroke caused by direct exposure to the sun broadly : heatstroke

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More from Merriam-Webster on sunstroke

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with sunstroke

Spanish Central: Translation of sunstroke

Nglish: Translation of sunstroke for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of sunstroke for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sunstroke