metabolism
muh-TAB-uh-liz-um
/mɛˈtæbəlɪzəm/
The chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life, converting food into energy and structural materials.
Encompasses both breaking down nutrients (catabolism) and building up compounds (anabolism).
The story behind the word. From Greek 'metabole' (change), built from 'meta-' (over) and 'ballein' (to throw). Theodor Schwann introduced it in 1839 to describe how living cells constantly change chemical substances into usable life energy.
Word relationships
- energy processing: Descriptive phrase rather than formal biological term.
Commonly confused with
- metamorphosis: Metamorphosis is structural transformation (like caterpillar to butterfly), whereas metabolism is biochemical energy conversion.
Word family
- metabolic (adjective): Relating to cellular biochemical energy conversion.
- metabolize (verb): To break down and process nutrients chemically.
Collocations
- basal metabolism
- fast metabolism
- metabolism rate
- cellular metabolism
Example sentences
- "Regular physical activity elevates resting metabolism, helping the body burn energy more efficiently." Health and Fitness
- "Thyroid hormones play a crucial role in regulating cellular metabolism throughout the organism." Endocrinology
Memory hook
META-bolism META-morphoses fuel into energy. Metabolism = Chemical life engine.
When not to use
Do not use merely to mean stomach digestion; metabolism includes cellular energy production and tissue synthesis.
Fun facts
- Hummingbirds have the highest metabolic rate among vertebrates, with hearts beating up to 1,260 times per minute!
Related words
Explore more words
ferment, enzyme, photosynthesis, fermentation, consumption, Synthesis
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.