metabolism
n. C / Un. the chemical process in your body that turns food and drink into energy. People with a fast metabolism can eat a lot without gaining weight.
n. the sum of the chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life. Includes both the breakdown of substances to yield energy and the synthesis of all compounds needed by the cells.
Exercise can help speed up your metabolism.
Some people naturally have a high metabolism, which means their bodies burn calories faster even when they are resting.
The study examines how certain environmental toxins can disrupt cellular metabolism, leading to long-term health issues such as chronic fatigue and weight gain.
From Ancient Greek μεταβολή (metabolḗ, “change”) + -ism, from μεταβάλλω (metabállō, “to change, to alter”) + -η (-ē, action noun suffix).
Uncountable when referring to the general biological process; countable when referring to the specific metabolic rate of an individual or species.