# ISO

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/iso
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. international standards

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

Stands for International Organization for Standardization. An organization that creates rules for how things should be made or done globally.

For teachers: Abbreviation for International Organization for Standardization. An international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations.

- The factory follows ISO standards to ensure all their products are safe.
- The company sought ISO 9001 certification to demonstrate their commitment to quality management systems and international operational consistency.

### 2. camera sensitivity

noun · CEFR B1 · Technical

A setting on a camera that controls how sensitive it is to light.

For teachers: A numerical rating of the sensitivity of a camera's sensor or film to light, based on international standards.

- I had to increase the ISO because the room was very dark.
- Shooting at a high ISO allowed the photographer to capture the movement in the dim jazz club, though it introduced significant digital noise.

### 3. computer disk image

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

A single computer file that contains everything from a CD or DVD.

For teachers: An archive file of an optical disc, containing the data from every written sector of an ISO 9660 file system.

- You can download the operating system as an ISO file and burn it to a USB.
- The technician mounted the ISO directly to the virtual machine to begin the software installation without needing physical media.

### 4. stock options

noun · CEFR C1 · American English · Technical

Stands for incentive stock option. A type of benefit where a company lets employees buy shares at a special price.

For teachers: Abbreviation for incentive stock option. A type of statutory stock option that qualifies for preferential tax treatment in the United States.

- The startup offered me a salary plus a generous package of ISOs.
- Employees must hold their ISOs for at least two years from the date of grant to qualify for long-term capital gains treatment.

### 5. looking for

preposition · CEFR B1 · Informal

Stands for in search of. Used in online ads when you want to buy or find something.

For teachers: Abbreviation for in search of. Frequently used in classified advertisements and online marketplaces to indicate a desired item or service.

- I posted a message saying I was ISO a vintage record player.
- The collector spent months browsing forums, eventually posting an ISO thread for the rare first-edition manuscript.

### 6. isolation

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

A short way of saying isolation, often used in sports or medical contexts.

For teachers: A clipping of isolation. Used in sports to describe a play where a player is isolated against a defender, or in medical contexts for quarantine.

- The basketball team ran an ISO play for their star player in the final minute.
- After testing positive, the athlete was placed in ISO to prevent the virus from spreading to the rest of the squad.

## Examples

- I had to increase the ISO because the room was very dark.
- When shooting the night sky, you should use a high ISO and a tripod to capture the stars clearly.
- Modern full-frame sensors can handle a high ISO with minimal noise, allowing photographers to capture candid moments in dimly lit environments without the need for an external flash.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.