anisotropic

[an-ahy-suh-trop-ik, -troh-pik, an-ahy-]

adjective

1. Physics.,  of unequal physical properties along different axes.

2. Botany.,  of different dimensions along different axes.

anisotropic

/ ˌænaɪ-, ænˌaɪsəʊˈtrɒpɪk, ˌænaɪˈsɒtrəpɪ /

adjective

1. not isotropic; having different physical properties in different directions

   anisotropic crystals

2. (of a plant) responding unequally to an external stimulus in different parts of the plant

anisotropic

1. Differing according to orientation, as light scattered by a liquid crystal; light striking the liquid crystal's surface at a 90° angle might not be reflected (so the surface appears dark when viewed head-on), while light striking it at shallower angles is reflected (so the surface appears illuminated when viewed from a shallow angle).

2. Compare isotropic

Other Word Forms

• anisotropically adverb
• anisotropy noun
• anisotropism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of anisotropic¹

First recorded in 1875–80; an- ¹ + isotropic

Example Sentences

Using a combination of advanced techniques including single crystal X-ray diffraction, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance and scanning transmission electron microscopy, the researchers found evidence of anisotropic atomic displacements of the titanium atoms in BaTiS3.

From Science Daily

Surprisingly, the exchange energy of holes is not only electrically controllable, but strongly anisotropic.

From Science Daily

"This is particularly attractive when we wish to quantify anisotropic crystal growth, such as that in aqueous solutions and slurries, in which crystals extend in the different crystal directions at different velocities," says García-Moreno.

From Science Daily

Next, skeletal muscle cells called myotubes, found in living organisms, are aligned using the MGs to achieve an anisotropic curved muscle pattern.

From Science Daily

This finding could be a sign that the universe is actually “anisotropic”—expanding faster in some regions than it does in others.

From Scientific American