isometric

See also: isomètric

English

WOTD – 8 June 2010

Alternative forms

• isometrical (dated)

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἰσομέτρητος (isométrētos, “equal in measure”), from ἴσος (ísos, “equal”) + μέτρον (métron, “measure”). See also: iso- +‎ -metric.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌaɪ.səʊˈmɛt.ɹɪk/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌaɪ.soʊˈmɛt.ɹɪk/, /ˌaɪ.səˈmɛt.ɹɪk/

• Audio (US)

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• Audio (AU)

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Adjective

isometric (comparative more isometric, superlative most isometric)

1. Of, or exhibiting equality in dimensions.
2. Of, or being a geometric system of three equal axes lying at right angles to each other (especially in crystallography).
3. (physiology) Of or involving muscular contraction against resistance in which the length of the muscle remains the same. See also: Wikipedia:isometric exercise
   • 2011, David Foster Wallace, The Pale King, page 10:

     One of the most effective isometric exercises for the deskbound is to sit up quite straight and tighten the large muscles of the buttocks, holding for a count of eight, then release.

   Antonyms include tonic movements auxotonic and isotonic which are divided into concentric and eccentric.

4. (physics, of a thermodynamic process) Taking place at constant volume because of being confined by rigid boundaries.

Derived terms

• isometric perspective
• isometric projection
• isometric space

Translations

exhibiting equality in dimensions

• Catalan: isomètric
• Finnish: isometrinen (fi)
• German: isometrisch (de)
• Hebrew: איזומטרי m (eezometree)
• Hungarian: izometrikus (hu)
• Irish: isiméadrach
• Italian: isometrico (it) m
• Maori: inerite
• Norwegian: isometrisk (no)
• Polish: izometryczny (pl)
• Romanian: izometric (ro)
• Russian: изометри́ческий (ru) (izometríčeskij)
• Swedish: isometrisk (sv)

being a geometric system of three equal axes lying at right angles to each other

• Catalan: isomètric
• Finnish: isometrinen (fi)
• Hungarian: izometrikus (hu)
• Irish: isiméadrach
• Italian: isometrico (it) m
• Norwegian: isometrisk (no)

involving muscular contraction

• Catalan: isomètric
• Finnish: isometrinen (fi)
• Hungarian: izometrikus (hu)
• Italian: isometrico (it) m
• Norwegian: isometrisk (no)
• Russian: изометрический (ru) (izometričeskij)

taking place at constant volume

• Catalan: isomètric
• Finnish: isometrinen (fi)
• Hungarian: izometrikus (hu)
• Italian: isometrico (it) m
• Norwegian: isometrisk (no)
• Russian: изохорный (ru) (izoxornyj)

Noun

isometric (plural isometrics)

1. A line connecting isometric points.

Anagrams

• eroticism, meroistic, microsite