aerobic

/ɛˈroʊbɪk/

/ɛˈrʌʊbɪk/

Other forms: aerobics; aerobically

When you run for a mile, and start breathing hard, get your blood pounding and your heart rate up, you are doing aerobic exercise: exercise that depends on and consumes oxygen.

We are aerobic creatures because we breathe air in order to live, and aerobic describes anything that uses oxygen to survive. Most of the time, this word is connected to exercise: activity that increases the rate at which your body uses oxygen. There is an entire exercising industry — quite the craze in the 80s — known simply as aerobics. Aerobics consists of dance moves and jumping exercises designed to get your blood flowing and your heart rate up.

Definitions of aerobic

1. adjective

   depending on free oxygen or air
   “aerobic fermentation”

   synonyms: aerophilic, aerophilous

   aerobiotic

   living or active only in the presence of oxygen

   oxidative

   taking place in the presence of oxygen

   antonyms:

   anaerobic

   living or active in the absence of free oxygen
2. adjective

   based on or using the principles of aerobics; enhancing respiratory and circulatory efficiency
   “aerobic dance”

   “running is very aerobic”

   antonyms:

   anaerobic

   not aerobic