anaerobic

[an-uh-roh-bik, an-ai-]

adjective

1. (of an organism or tissue) living in the absence of air or free oxygen.

2. pertaining to or caused by the absence of oxygen.

anaerobic

/ ˌænɛəˈrəʊbɪk /

adjective

1. (of an organism or process) requiring the absence of or not dependent on the presence of oxygen

2. of or relating to anaerobes

anaerobic

1. Occurring in the absence of oxygen or not requiring oxygen to live. Anaerobic bacteria produce energy from food molecules without the presence of oxygen.

2. Compare aerobic

anaerobic

1. A descriptive term for a process, such as fermentation, that can proceed only in the absence of oxygen, or a living thing that can survive only in the absence of oxygen. (Compare aerobic.)

Other Word Forms

• anaerobically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of anaerobic¹

First recorded in 1880–85; anaerobe + -ic

Example Sentences

This included alternative uses for the site such as hydrothermal plastics recycling and anaerobic digestion.

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This compound is found in the atmospheres of the gas giants Jupiter and Saturn and has long been viewed as a potential biosignature for anaerobic life.

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“If it doesn’t get fluffed enough, the material starts to compact and it starts to break down, what’s called anaerobically, which is without oxygen,” said the spa’s general manager, Heather Bishop.

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"This is an odd adaptation but allows them to perform anaerobic glycolysis," Hadj-Moussa explained.

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Food waste is sent to an anaerobic digestion plant, and converted into energy by burning the methane waste that comes from it, with the by-product being used for farm fertiliser.

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