anaerobic

[an-uh-roh-bik, an-ai-] /ˌæn əˈroʊ bɪk, ˌæn ɛə-/

adjective

(of an organism or tissue) living in the absence of air or free oxygen.

pertaining to or caused by the absence of oxygen.

Origin

1880-85; anaerobe + -ic

Related forms

anaerobically, adverb

Examples from the web for anaerobic

In periodontal disease, the bacterial balance shifts over to gram negative anaerobic bacteria.
Because this is where anaerobic bacteria, which produce sulfur, in the course of their processing get involved.
It is only when the piles become starved of oxygen that noxious anaerobic activity begins.
The real answer may be to put in microbes that are only anaerobic.
It was the byproduct of anaerobic bacterial respiration.
The first lagoon is bubbly and dark, with anaerobic bacteria digesting the organic matter to reduce odor.
anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis both produce renewable energy while destroying infectious agents in manure.
Manures should go into anaerobic digesters to make clean biofuel.
Many dairies currently use anaerobic digestors to capture the methane from manure.
Conduct research on cellular respiration and anaerobic respiration in muscles.

British Dictionary definitions for anaerobic

anaerobic

/ˌænɛəˈrəʊbɪk/

adjective

(of an organism or process) requiring the absence of or not dependent on the presence of oxygen

of or relating to anaerobes

Compare aerobic

Derived Forms

anaerobically, adverb

Word Origin and History for anaerobic

adj.

"capable of living without oxygen," 1879 (as anaerobian; modern form first attested 1884), from French anaérobie, coined 1863 by French bacteriologist Louis Pasteur (1822-1895), from Greek an- "without" (see an- (1)) + aer "air" (see air (n.1)) + bios "life" (see bio-).

anaerobic in Medicine

anaerobic an·aer·o·bic (ān'ə-rō'bĭk, -â-rō'bĭk)
adj.

Relating to or being an anaerobe.
Living without oxygen.

anaerobic in Science

anaerobic

(ān'ə-rō'bĭk)
Occurring in the absence of oxygen or not requiring oxygen to live. Anaerobic bacteria produce energy from food molecules without the presence of oxygen. Compare aerobic.

anaerobic in Culture

anaerobic [(an-uh-roh-bik, an-air-oh-bik)]

A descriptive term for a process, such as fermentation, that can proceed only in the absence of oxygen, or a living thing that can survive only in the absence of oxygen. (Compare aerobic.)