Cornstarch (or corn flour) usually works best with water-based sauces, reduced stock, jus from meats, wine sauces, wine-soy-vinegar Chinese sauces, etc. Make a thin paste of cornstarch and water, and stir that into the very warm liquids in the pot or pan. Over-heating or over-cooking will break down the starches.
maintaining, or pertaining to, the same length; of equal dimensions. isometric contraction. muscle contraction without appreciable shortening or change in distance between its origin and insertion. isometric exercise. active exercise performed against stable resistance, without change in the length of the muscle.
Isotonic Contraction. Isotonic literally means 'same tension,' where 'iso'- means 'the same' and 'tonic' refers to 'tension or force' - in this case, in the muscle. In an isotonic contraction, tension develops to a point and then remains constant while the muscle changes its length.