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isotropic

American  
[ahy-suh-trop-ik, -troh-pik] / ˌaɪ səˈtrɒp ɪk, -ˈtroʊ pɪk /
Also isotropous

adjective

  1. Physics. of equal physical properties along all axes.

  2. Zoology. lacking axes that are predetermined, as in some eggs.


isotropic British  
/ ˌaɪsəʊˈtrɒpɪk /

adjective

  1. having uniform physical properties in all directions

  2. biology not having predetermined axes

    isotropic eggs

"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

isotropic Scientific  
/ ī′sə-trō′pĭk,-trŏp′ĭk /
  1. Identical in all directions; invariant with respect to direction. For example, isotropic scattering of light by a substance entails that the intensity of light radiated is the same in all directions.

  2. Compare anisotropic


Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of isotropic

First recorded in 1860–65; iso- + -tropic


Compare meaning

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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.

See Examples For:

During their analysis, the scientists observed that every isotropic bandgap material exhibited a shared structural signature.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 13, 2025

Until now, structures with isotropic porosity have been applied, but these have the drawback that they exponentially attenuate the incident solar radiation as it travels into the reactor.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 27, 2023

There’s just one problem: a certain hirsute fact from topology mandates that isotropic antennas can’t exist.

From Scientific American ● Aug. 18, 2023

The authors then confirmed this finding using a mechanical model of the outer surface, in which the lengths of cell–cell interfaces were minimized, encouraging isotropic shapes.

From Nature ● Sep. 9, 2018

Allanite is a mineral readily altered by hydration, becoming optically isotropic and amorphous: for this reason several varieties have been distinguished, and many different names applied.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 6 "English Language" to "Epsom Salts" by Various

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