Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A system of physical conditioning designed to enhance circulatory and respiratory efficiency that involves vigorous sustained exercise, such as jogging, swimming, or cycling.
  • noun A program of physical fitness that involves such exercise.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun physical exercises performed in a sustained and strenuous fashion designed to cause a temporary increase in respiration rate and heart rate, such a running, swimming, walking, or calisthenics. Calisthenic sessions in groups, performed by following a leader in moving to a rhythmic musical accompaniment, are a popular form of aerobics.
  • noun a system of physical conditioning relying largely on aerobics exercises.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A form of exercise, designed to enhance one's cardiovascular fitness, normally performed to music

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun exercise that increases the need for oxygen

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[From aerobic.]

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Examples

  • ‡ The term aerobics usually refers to a specific kind of vigorous exercise, sometimes involving dance steps, that is set to music.

    aerobics 2002

  • The word 'aerobics' came about when the gym instructors got together and said: If we're going to charge $10 an hour, we can't call it 'Jumping up and down.'

    The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed Michael Kesterton 2011

  • My knee is feeling better so I think I'll do 20 min aerobics, 20 min toning.

    In High Spirits (aka Rollercoaster Ride) 2001

  • At that point, health clubs and gyms were mainly for the die-hard weight lifters; Gilda and her former student Jane Fonda were doing this thing called aerobics, and it seemed like everybody who was anybody walked through our doors those days!

    Donna Fish: Sisterhood of the Spandex and One Degree of Separation 2009

  • It was aerobic dance popularly called aerobics here in TnT.

    TrinidadExpress Today's News By Simone Gonzales 2010

  • Or you could try aqua aerobics, which is really fun.

    mirror.co.uk - Home 2009

  • Or you could try aqua aerobics, which is really fun.

    mirror.co.uk - Home 2009

  • "The word 'aerobics' comes from two Greek words: 'aero', meaning 'ability to', and 'bics', meaning 'withstand tremendous boredom'."

    dustbury.com » Somewhat artier 2010

  • Dr. Kenneth Cooper, the fitness guru who coined the word "aerobics," says that if you run more than 15 miles a week, you're running for something other than fitness.

    Confessions of a Fat Runner 2008

  • "The word 'aerobics' comes from two Greek words: 'aero', meaning 'ability to', and 'bics', meaning 'withstand tremendous boredom'."

    dustbury.com » Morning report 2007

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