Describing organisms or things that thrive in or have a strong preference for air and oxygen-rich environments.
From Greek aero- (air) and -philic (loving). Used primarily in biology to describe bacteria, fungi, or other microorganisms that require oxygen or prefer well-aerated conditions.
Aerophilic bacteria are the opposite of anaerobic bacteria—they literally can't survive without oxygen, which is why wounds need air to heal and why compost piles get turned to keep them aerated.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.