# metabolism

/məˈtæbəˌɫɪzəm/ (US) · /mətˈæbəlˌɪzəm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/metabolism
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. biological process

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

the set of chemical reactions in a living thing that keep it alive and growing.

For teachers: the biochemical processes occurring within a living organism to maintain life, including both catabolism and anabolism.

- Exercise can help change how your metabolism works over time.
- The drug was designed to interfere with the metabolism of cancer cells, effectively starving them of the nutrients required for rapid division.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun in scientific contexts.

### 2. energy rate

noun · CEFR B2

the speed at which your body uses energy or burns calories.

For teachers: the rate at which an individual organism consumes energy, often used in discussions of diet and fitness.

- Some people have a naturally fast metabolism and can eat a lot without gaining weight.
- As people age, their basal metabolism tends to slow down, necessitating a more careful balance between caloric intake and physical activity.

Usage: Commonly modified by adjectives like 'fast', 'slow', 'high', or 'low'.

### 3. system maintenance

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the way a complex system, like a city or a business, uses resources to keep running.

For teachers: the internal processes that maintain the stability and function of a dynamic system through the exchange of energy or information.

- The book examines the social metabolism of the city and how it handles waste.
- Economists often study the industrial metabolism of a nation to understand how raw materials are converted into finished goods and environmental byproducts.

### 4. Japanese architecture

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a style of Japanese architecture from the 1960s that treated buildings like living, growing things.

For teachers: a post-war Japanese architectural movement that combined megastructures with ideas of organic biological growth.

- The Nakagin Capsule Tower is a famous example of Metabolism in architecture.
- The proponents of Metabolism envisioned cities as flexible, evolving organisms rather than static collections of permanent buildings.

## Examples

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.