Anisotropy is a term used in various scientific disciplines to describe a property that varies depending on the direction in which it is measured. This can apply to physical, chemical, or biological properties of materials or systems. In materials science, anisotropy can refer to differences in mechanical, thermal, or electrical properties depending on the orientation of the material's structure. In geology, anisotropy can refer to variations in seismic wave velocities in different directions within rocks. Understanding and characterizing anisotropy is important for predicting and optimizing the behavior of materials and systems in a wide range of applications.