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 On two or three days, do 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity. — Amby Burfoot, Washington Post, "Study shows that ‘extraordinary’ level of exercise does not damage the heart," 18 Nov. 2019 The plan might include actions such as getting started on a brain-healthy diet, giving up smoking or drinking, adding more social activities, or taking on aerobic exercise. — Cindy Krischer Goodman, sun-sentinel.com, "Don’t just fear memory loss. Take action now to keep your brain sharp.," 14 Nov. 2019 At the end of a four-week trial, where subjects rode at least three days a week, researchers found that peak oxygen uptake, a measure of aerobic fitness, actually increased more in the e-bike group than the group on conventional bikes. — Joe Lindsey, Outside Online, "Riding an E-Bike Is Not Cheating," 1 Nov. 2019 Eleven were asked to participate in an exercise regimen to improve their aerobic fitness for six months, and 12 served as the control. — Alice Park, Time, "How Exercise Lowers the Risk of Alzheimer’s by Changing Your Brain," 9 Aug. 2019 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

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

1 Dec 2019

Cite this Entry

“Aerobic.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aerobically?pronunciation&lang=en_us&dir=a&file=aerobi02. Accessed 14 December 2019.

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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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