anaerobic

Meanings

1. Without oxygen; especially of an environment or organism.
2. Of exercise, involving glycolysis (the conversion of glucose to adenosine triphosphate) rather than using oxygen to supply bodily energy needs.
3. Of or relating to an anaerobe.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Hellenic *ə- Ancient Greek ᾰ̓- (ă-) Ancient Greek ἀν- (an-) Proto-Indo-European *h₂ews- Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewsér Proto-Hellenic *auhḗr Ancient Greek ᾱ̓ήρ (āḗr) Proto-Indo-European *gʷeyh₃-der. Ancient Greek βῐ́ος (bĭ́os) French anaérobie Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos Latin -icuslbor. Old French -iquebor. Middle English -ik English -ic English anaerobic From French anaérobie, from Ancient Greek ἀν- (an-, “not”) + ἀήρ (aḗr, “air”) + βίος (bíos, “life”) + -ic. By surface analysis, an- + aerobic.