Meaning & use
isometric
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a nounsport
Describing exercise in which a muscle is tensed against resistance while the joint stays still and the muscle does not change length.
Grammar: Normally comes before a noun: isometric exercise.
Holding a plank is an isometric exercise.
The physiotherapist gave him isometric exercises that did not strain his knee.
Pushing against a wall is a simple isometric workout.
adjectivebefore a nountechnical
Describing a drawing in which a three-dimensional object is shown with its three main axes at equal angles and its measurements to the same scale.
Grammar: Used before nouns such as drawing, view or projection.
The architect sketched an isometric view of the staircase.
Many puzzle games use an isometric perspective, so the grid appears at an angle.
An isometric drawing shows all three faces of a cube equally.
adjectivenot comparabletechnical
Having equal measurements, or keeping the same dimensions.
Grammar: A formal, scientific use: isometric growth.
The crystal has isometric faces of the same size.
Biologists describe isometric growth when body parts increase in step.
Common combinations
- isometric exercise
- Isometric exercise builds strength without moving the joints.
- isometric contraction
- An isometric contraction occurs when you hold a heavy bag still.
- isometric drawing
- The engineer finished the isometric drawing of the machine.
- isometric view
- The manual includes an isometric view of the shelf.
- isometric projection
- Isometric projection keeps lines parallel and angles equal.
Synonyms and how they differ
- static
- Static describes a hold with no motion in everyday fitness language, but it is broader and does not imply the specific muscle contraction that isometric does.
- axonometric
- Axonometric is the wider technical term for drawings using angled axes, and isometric is one specific type with equal angles.
Opposites
Word family
- isometrics noun
- a system of isometric exercises
- isometry noun
- equality of measure, or a distance-preserving transformation in mathematics
- isometrically adverb
- in an isometric way
Commonly confused: isometric or isotonic?
isometric vs isotonic
Isotonic exercise involves the muscle changing length as the joint moves, as in a biceps curl, while isometric exercise keeps the muscle length fixed.
Practice
Holding a heavy book at arm's length without moving is an example of ____ muscle work.
Choose one answer.
Isometric work means tension with no change in muscle length or joint movement. Isotonic is tempting but describes exercise where the muscle shortens and lengthens.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “isometric”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.