aerobic

(â-rō'bĭk)
adj.

1. Biology.
   1. Living or occurring only in the presence of oxygen: aerobic bacteria.
   2. Of or relating to aerobes.
2. Involving or improving oxygen consumption by the body: aerobic exercise.
3. Relating to or used in aerobics: aerobic shoes.

aerobically aer·o'bi·cal·ly adv.

View more Health videos

1. Aerobic micro-organisms (aerobes) are those that require oxygen for growth; obligate aerobes cannot survive in the absence of oxygen. The opposite are anaerobic organisms, which do not require oxygen for growth; obligate anaerobes cannot survive in the presence of oxygen.

2. Aerobic exercise is physical activity which requires an increase in heart rate and respiration to meet the increased demand of muscle for oxygen, as contrasted with maximum exertion or sprinting, when muscle can metabolize anaerobically, producing lactic acid, which is metabolized later, creating a need for increased respiration after the exercise has ceased (so-called oxygen debt).

Aerobic as applied to metabolism in cells of the body, or in microorganisms, means oxygen-utilizing. Aerobic metabolism occurs in most animal cells, and depends upon the presence of mitochondria, in which the key chemical processes take place. Aerobic bacteria inhabit the body surface and orifices — they do not have mitochondria. Aerobic exercise is that which is sustainable in balance with oxygen intake — for example, a 10 km race, or any milder rhythmic exercise.

— Neil C. Spurway

See metabolism.

Referring to any living organism which depends on atmospheric oxygen for the release of energy from foodstuffs during the process of respiration. Compare with anaerobic.

[De]

A term to describe environments in which oxygen is present and in which microbial decay of organic materials takes place. Compare anaerobic.

Applied to conditions or processes occurring in the presence of or requiring oxygen.

IN BRIEF: Using more oxygen.

Tamara enjoys her aerobic exercise.

LearnThatWord.com is a free vocabulary and spelling program where you only pay for results!

(air-oh-bik)

In biology, a descriptive term for organisms that require the presence of oxygen to live. (Compare anaerobic.)

Aerobic exercise, such as running, swimming, and doing calisthenics for an extended time, is designed to improve the body's use of oxygen.

A microbe or microbiological process that functions fully only in the presence of free oxygen.

• a. effluent treatment — the activated sludge method of handling sewage and abattoir effluent.
• a. exercise — moderate exercise performed in the circumstance where the blood supply is able to maintain an adequate supply of oxygen to the tissues during the exercise.

For a list of words related to aerobic, see:

• Cell Structure and Function - aerobic: (adj) living, growing, or occurring in the presence of oxygen

---

Dansk (Danish)
adj. - aerobic-, aerobisk

Nederlands (Dutch)
aerobic, zuurstof behoevend

Français (French)
adj. - (Chim) aérobie, d'aérobic

Deutsch (German)
adj. - (biol.) aerob

Ελληνική (Greek)
adj. - (βιολ.) αερόβιος

Italiano (Italian)
aerobico

Português (Portuguese)
adj. - aeróbio (Biol.)

Русский (Russian)
аэробный

Español (Spanish)
adj. - aerobio

Svenska (Swedish)
adj. - aerob, aerobisk

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
需氧的, 增氧健身运动的, 有氧的

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 需氧的, 增氧健身運動的, 有氧的

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - 호기성의, 에어로빅스의

日本語 (Japanese)
adj. - 好気性の, エアロビクスの

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(صفه) حيهوائي : يعيش وينشط في حال وجود ألأكسجين فقط‏

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮של חמצן חופשי או זקוק לו (ביולוגיה), אירובי‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.