aerobic

adjective

aer·o·bic | \ ˌer-ˈō-bik

Definition of aerobic

1 : living, active, or occurring only in the presence of oxygen aerobic respiration

2 : of, relating to, or induced by aerobes aerobic fermentation

3a : of, relating to, or being activity which increases the body's demand for oxygen thereby resulting in marked temporary increase in respiration and heart rate stationary bicycles used for aerobic conditioning an aerobic workout Aerobic exercise involves pushing your heart rate to 70% to 85% of its maximum, and keeping it there for 20 to 60 minutes at a time.— Tara Parker-Pope

b : of or relating to the body's ability to consume oxygen during exercise … the average exerciser can skip a couple of weeks without experiencing declines in aerobic capacity or the ability of the heart and lungs to supply the muscles with oxygen … — Consumer Reports on Health

c : relating to, resulting from, or used in aerobics or aerobic activity aerobic equipment

Other Words from aerobic Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about aerobic

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Did You Know?

Aerobic exercise is exercise that takes an extended amount of time—usually ten minutes or more—but is usually performed at only moderate intensity. Running, swimming, bicycling, and cross-country skiing are classic aerobic exercises. In 1968 a best-selling book called Aerobics introduced a system of exercise for increasing the body's ability to take in and use oxygen, and today aerobics classes, often mimicking such outdoor exercise as running and bicycling, take place every afternoon in thousands of gyms and YMCAs across the country. Aerobic exercise particularly strengthens the heart and lungs, but usually has many other good effects as well. Aerobic bacteria, which need oxygen to live, are essential for breaking down living matter so that it returns to the soil. They include the famous intestinal E. coli, as well as the staph and strep bacteria that can make a visit to the hospital risky.

Examples of aerobic in a Sentence

aerobic exercises like running and swimming aerobic organisms such as bacteria

Recent Examples on the Web

That’s because aerobic capacity, muscle mass, bone density, flexibility and balance all decline over time—and each requires some attention. ... — Anne Tergesen, WSJ, "The Best Exercises for Your 50s, 60s, 70s—and Beyond," 19 Apr. 2019 Monitoring your pace with an electronic device is a great way to stay in an aerobic zone. — Louise Green, SELF, "5 Ways to Conquer Your First 5K Race With a Bigger Body," 10 Apr. 2018 The Enquirer set out to gather damaging information about the 70-year-old, who is known for aerobic instruction and promoting weight-loss programs, people familiar with the matter said. — Lukas I. Alpert, WSJ, "From Bezos to Dr. Phil, the Enquirer Turns to Bare Knuckle Tactics," 15 Feb. 2019 Jornet was the aerobic monster who could grind fast and forever on little food or water. — Nick Heil, Outside Online, "Are Kilian Jornet's Speed Records Too Good to Be True?," 12 July 2018 Despite the highly aerobic performance, Welch didn't compromise her voice, belting out her vocals with near perfection. — Abby Jones, Billboard, "Florence + the Machine Prance & Spin Around 'Tonight Show' Audience For Enchanting 'Hunger' Performance: Watch," 17 May 2018 The physical therapy intervention included one-on-one coaching, instructions for at-home exercise and aerobic workout sessions. — Daisy Yuhas, Scientific American, "Forget Pills and Surgery for Back Pain," 1 Oct. 2017 This was despite mountains of evidence pointing to the benefits of aerobic exercise for mental health. — Brad Stulberg, Outside Online, "Lifting Weights Helps Ease Anxiety and Depression," 5 July 2018 Researchers examined 17,989 men and women, average age 50, from 1971 to 2009, gathering health and behavioral information, including data on aerobic fitness. — Nicholas Bakalar, New York Times, "Midlife Fitness May Protect Against Later Depression," 27 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'aerobic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

5 May 2019

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Time Traveler for aerobic

The first known use of aerobic was in 1875

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More Definitions for aerobic

aerobic

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of aerobic

of exercise : strengthening the heart and lungs by making them work hard for several minutes or more

technical : using oxygen

See the full definition for aerobic in the English Language Learners Dictionary

aerobic

adjective

aer·o·bic | \ ˌa(-ə)r-ˈō-bik, ˌe(-ə)r-

Medical Definition of aerobic

1 : living, active, or occurring only in the presence of oxygen aerobic respiration

2 : of, relating to, or induced by aerobes aerobic fermentation

3a : of, relating to, or being activity which increases the body's demand for oxygen thereby resulting in a marked temporary increase in respiration and heart rate aerobic exercise

b : of or relating to the body's ability to consume oxygen during exercise aerobic capacity

c : relating to, resulting from, or used in aerobics or aerobic activity aerobic shoes