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  • iso
    iso
    noun
  • ISO
    ISO
    abbreviation
    incentive stock option.
  • iso-
    iso-
    a combining form meaning “equal,” used in the formation of compound words: isochromatic; in chemistry, used in the names of substances which are isomeric with the substance denoted by the base word: isocyanic acid.

iso

1 American  
[ahy-soh] / ˈaɪ soʊ /

noun

plural

isos
  1. Television Slang. isolated camera.

  2. Sports.

    1. Basketball. a play in which an offensive player and a single defender are isolated and must play one-on-one.

    2. Football. a play in which a fullback acts as a blocker for the halfback.


ISO 2 American  

abbreviation

  1. incentive stock option.

  2. the numerical exposure index of a photographic film, used to indicate the light sensitivity of the film's emulsion.

  3. in search of: (used inclassified ads ).

    ISO roommate for a 2 bed/1 bath apartment.


ISO 3 American  
Trademark.
  1. International Organization for Standardization: an international nongovernmental organization that issues standards across a variety of industries.


iso- 4 American  
  1. a combining form meaning “equal,” used in the formation of compound words: isochromatic; in chemistry, used in the names of substances which are isomeric with the substance denoted by the base word: isocyanic acid.


iso- 1 British  

combining form

  1. equal or identical

    isomagnetic

  2. indicating that a chemical compound is an isomer of a specified compound

    isobutane

    isocyanic acid

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

ISO 2 British  
/ aɪsaʊ /

noun

  1. International Organization for Standardization

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of iso1

By shortening; cf. -o

Origin of iso-4

From Greek, combining form of ísos “equal”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The New York ISO asked dozens of large electricity users including manufacturers to ramp down their power usage on certain days to help make sure there was enough power.

From Barron's • Feb. 6, 2026

“Maybe I should go back and look at it again, but it’d be helpful if you’re citing ISO standards ... that you identify what parts” are being cited, he said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2025

“Copies of those ISO standards should be publicly available,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2025

Mexico and Canada trade zone it dropped 6.1%, ISO data showed.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 2, 2024

Like a pilot dipping the plane into a tailspin to practice pulling back out, she would deliberately take photos out of focus, with the wrong shutter speed or the wrong ISO, to see what happened.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

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