anaerobic

American  

[an-uh-roh-bik, an-ai-] / ˌæn əˈroʊ bɪk, ˌæn ɛə- /

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.

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anaerobic British  

/ 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

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anaerobic Scientific  

/ ăn′ə-rō′bĭk /

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

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anaerobic Cultural  

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.)

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Other Word Forms

• anaerobically adverb

Etymology

Origin of anaerobic

First recorded in 1880–85; anaerobe + -ic

Compare meaning

How does anaerobic compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• aerobic vs. anaerobic

Example Sentences

Already the West Country is a "hotbed for anaerobic digestion and biogas", according to Matt Hindle, head of Net Zero at Wales and West.

From BBC

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

From BBC

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.

From Science Daily

“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.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Salon