metabolism

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the set of chemical processes by which a living organism converts substances into energy and materials needed for life, growth, and repair

   A lack of oxygen can disrupt the metabolism of cells throughout the body.

2. 2
   noun

   the rate at which a person or organism uses energy

   Regular exercise can affect metabolism even while the body is at rest.

Common collocations

• fat metabolism Noun + noun

Borrowed in the late nineteenth century from French metabolisme, based on Greek metabole ("change") and the suffix -ism. Metabole comes from metaballein ("to change"), combining meta- in the sense of change with ballein ("to throw"). The biological term emphasizes continual chemical transformation within living things.

Topics

External links

• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary
• Google Images