aerobic

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 There will be white-linen and casual dining options, a library and computer center, fitness center with indoor aerobic pool, a salon/barbershop and movie theater. — William Thornton | Wthornton@al.com, al, "Bridge Senior Living managing Huntsville senior living community," 8 Nov. 2019 Yoga devotees may stand tall but may lack strength and aerobic capacity. — Los Angeles Times, "Don’t be a mono-maniac: Here’s why you need to mix up your workouts," 26 Sep. 2019 Hoop dancing is a great activity to improve your balance, flexibility and aerobic ability. — Tristan Xiong / Great River School, Twin Cities, "ThreeSixty Journalism: Minneapolis hoop dancer giving life lessons," 31 Aug. 2019 While more than 75% of Americans reported being physically active within the last month, only about half of American adults meet aerobic activity guidelines. — Shelby Fleig, USA TODAY, "America's fittest cities: Arlington, Va., is tops; Minneapolis second. See where your city ranks.," 15 May 2018 As cold-blooded creatures, reptiles typically lack in aerobic capacity, rapidly becoming exhausted after physical exertions, unlike warm-blooded mammals. — Reuters, The Mercury News, "Genetic adaptations point to Komodo dragons’ toughness," 29 July 2019 Subjects were randomized to 12 months of aerobic exercise or stretching and toning. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN, "Regular aerobic exercise may slow progression to Alzheimer's for those most at risk," 17 Sep. 2019 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity each week. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN, "More intense exercise linked to a better sex life, exploratory study says," 30 Aug. 2019 About 65% of people met guidelines for aerobic activity in 2015-2016, compared with 63% in 2007-2008, the study found. — Dennis Thompson, chicagotribune.com, "Americans are sitting more than ever, increasing the risk for at least 10 major health issues," 30 July 2019

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

17 Nov 2019

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

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