metabolism

/məˌtæbəˈlɪzəm/

/mɪˈtæbəlɪzəm/

Other forms: metabolisms

Your metabolism is the result of all the processes in your body working together to create the energy that keeps you going.

Your metabolism is the rate at which your body's many processes function, and it can be low, high, or somewhere in the middle. When you're younger, your high metabolism makes it easy to lose weight but as you get older your metabolism slows down and you might put on a few pounds. Exercising speeds up your metabolism. This word also refers to the sudden transformation of a larva into an adult in some animals.

Definitions of metabolism

1. noun

   the organic processes (in a cell or organism) that are necessary for life
   synonyms: metabolic process

   types:

   cellular respiration, internal respiration, respiration

   the metabolic processes whereby certain organisms obtain energy from organic molecules; processes that take place in the cells and tissues during which energy is released and carbon dioxide is produced and absorbed by the blood to be transported to the lungs

   basal metabolism

   the amount of energy required to maintain the body of an individual in a resting state

   fat metabolism

   a metabolic process that breaks down ingested fats into fatty acids and glycerol and then into simpler compounds that can be used by cells of the body

   glycolysis

   a metabolic process that breaks down carbohydrates and sugars through a series of reactions to either pyruvic acid or lactic acid and releases energy for the body in the form of ATP

   type of:

   biological process, organic process

   a process occurring in living organisms
2. noun

   the marked and rapid transformation of a larva into an adult that occurs in some animals
   synonyms: metamorphosis

   types:

   hemimetabolism, hemimetaboly, hemimetamorphosis

   incomplete or partial metamorphosis in insects

   heterometabolism, heterometaboly

   development of insects with incomplete metamorphosis in which no pupal stage precedes maturity

   holometabolism, holometaboly

   complete metamorphosis in insects

   type of:

   biological process, organic process

   a process occurring in living organisms