anisotropically
1
9.9
- adverb
- /ˌænɪˈsɒtrəpɪkli/
- Specialized
- The material expands anisotropically when heated.
Examples
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The material expands anisotropically when exposed to heat, resulting in a change in shape.
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Magnetic properties change anisotropically with respect to the orientation of the external field.
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Light is absorbed anisotropically by certain crystals, depending on the direction of the incident beam.
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When tested, the crystal behaved anisotropically under stress.
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The material expanded anisotropically, causing it to crack in certain directions while remaining intact in others.
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The crystal structure exhibits different optical properties anisotropically, depending on the angle of light that hits it.
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When heated, the metal behaves anisotropically, with varying rates of expansion based on its orientation.
Synonyms
1
5.3
In a way that depends on which way something faces or points
How Directional
- Specialized
1
9.9
- Specialized
1
9.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
anisotropically = anisotropic (semi-transparent) = aniso + trop + ic + ly
The adverb is formed regularly from the adjective by adding -ly, so the meaning is directly recoverable from the immediate base.
Etymology
Anisotropically comes from Greek parts an- ('not'), iso- ('equal') and -tropic ('turn' or 'direction'). So, to act anisotropically is to behave differently depending on which way you point or look, not the same in every direction.