metabolism — The chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: The chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life
Pronunciation (IPA): /məˈtæbəlɪzəm/
Example Sentences
- My cat's metabolism is so slow that she gains weight just by looking at food.
- Understanding metabolism is crucial for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
- His metabolism works like a Ferrari engine - everything burns super fast!
metabolism
NOUN[/məˈtæbəlɪzəm/]
The chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life
After the marathon, his metabolism burns through pasta like a furnace at full blast.
Every organism runs on metabolism's mechanism!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Greek 'metabole' meaning 'change' or 'transformation', combined with the suffix '-ism' meaning 'process' or 'condition'. The term was adopted into scientific English in the 19th century to describe the chemical transformations occurring in living organisms.
Breakdown
meta- (change, after) + -bolism (from ballein, to throw) = metabolism; literally 'throwing together' or the process of transforming substances within a living organism
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My cat's metabolism is so slow that she gains weight just by looking at food.”
“Understanding metabolism is crucial for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.”
“His metabolism works like a Ferrari engine - everything burns super fast!”
“Scientists study plant metabolism to understand photosynthesis better.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.