anisotropical
|an-i-so-trop-i-cal|
🇺🇸
/ˌænɪsəˈtrɑpɪkəl/
🇬🇧
/ˌænɪsəˈtrɒpɪk(ə)l/
direction-dependent
Etymology
'anisotropical' originates from Greek elements via scientific Latin/Neo-Latin: the negative prefix 'an-' meaning 'not', the combining form 'iso-' meaning 'equal', and Greek 'tropos' meaning 'turn' or 'direction', plus the adjectival suffix '-ical'.
'anisotropical' developed from the adjective 'anisotropic' (coined in 19th-century scientific usage from Greek roots) with the addition of the suffix '-al/-ical' to form a variant adjective; the components passed into English through Neo-Latin and scientific terminology.
Initially built from roots meaning 'not equal in turning/direction', it came to be used in technical contexts to mean 'having properties that vary with direction' and retains that specialized meaning today.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having anisotropy; exhibiting different physical or mechanical properties in different directions (direction-dependent). Commonly used in materials science, physics, and geology.
Anisotropical crystals display different refractive indices along different crystallographic axes.
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Adjective 2
pertaining to or characterized by a lack of uniformity in properties when measured along different orientations; not isotropical.
Engineers must account for anisotropical behavior when modeling composite materials under load.
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Last updated: 2025/08/13 21:36