anisotropic

American  

[an-ahy-suh-trop-ik, -troh-pik, an-ahy-] / ænˌaɪ səˈtrɒp ɪk, -ˈtroʊ pɪk, ˌæn aɪ- /

adjective

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

2. Botany. of different dimensions along different axes.

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anisotropic British  

/ 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

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anisotropic Scientific  

/ ăn-ī′sə-trō′pĭk,-trŏp′ĭk,ăn′ī- /

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

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Other Word Forms

• anisotropically
  adverb
• anisotropism
  noun
• anisotropy
  noun

Etymology

Origin of anisotropic

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

Compare meaning

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

• isotropic vs. anisotropic

Example Sentences

Wolf emphasized that areas lacking a detectable anisotropic signal should not be assumed to be free of deformation.

From Science Daily • Apr. 23, 2026

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

From Science Daily • May 6, 2024

To complicate things further, seismic-wave speeds in the upper oceanic mantle are anisotropic — they depend on the direction of propagation.

From Nature • Nov. 13, 2018

This anisotropic constriction can lead to the formation of different contacts between neighbouring cells at the apical end of the cell from contacts at the basal end.

From Nature • Sep. 9, 2018

Both are adapted for determining the axes of elasticity and for the differentiation of isotropic and anisotropic bodies.

From Microscopes and Accessory Apparatus Catalogue No. 40 by Leitz, Ernst