anisotropy

American  

[an-ahy-so-truh-pee] / ˌæn aɪˈsɒ trə pi /

Rarely anisotropism

noun

1. Physics. the fact of having unequal physical properties along different axes.

   Even crystals with a simple cubic lattice structure, such as salt, display optical anisotropy; that is, the light propagates differently in different directions.

2. Botany. the fact of having different rates of growth in different directions.

   Anisotropy is a nearly ubiquitous feature of plant growth; it is necessary, if a growing plant organ is to produce any other form than a sphere.

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Etymology

Origin of anisotropy

First recorded in 1875–80; an- ¹ ( def. ) + isotrop(ic) ( def. ) + -y ³ ( def. )

Example Sentences

The results showed anisotropy across roughly two-thirds of the regions studied.

From Science Daily • Apr. 23, 2026

The motion of light elements may explain seismic anisotropy -- directional variations in seismic wave speeds -- and could also play a role in sustaining Earth's magnetic field.

From Science Daily • Dec. 10, 2025

So far, the potential hotspots seem to correlate with regions of the sky where fewer pulsars have been used in the data sets, meaning the anisotropy may simply be a miragelike artifact of data collection.

From Scientific American • Aug. 4, 2023

Pham said the speed likely differs based on the wave direction due to a physical property known as anisotropy, which allows a material to possess different properties in different directions.

From Washington Post • Feb. 24, 2023

And finally, perhaps, the most significant example for the effect of induced anisotropy lies in that differential impression made by stimulus on the sensory surfaces, which remains latent, and capable of revival, as the memory-image.

From Sir Jagadis Chunder Bose His Life and Speeches by Bose, Jagadis Chandra, Sir