Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "aerobe" wata halitta ce da za ta iya rayuwa da girma a gaban iskar oxygen. Ma’ana, nau’in halitta ne, irinsu wasu kwayoyin cuta da fungi, wadanda ke bukatar iskar oxygen don tsira da aiwatar da ayyukansu na rayuwa. Kishiyar aerobe shine anaerobe, wanda shine kwayar halitta mai iya rayuwa da girma idan babu iskar oxygen.
