Word
metabolite
Phoneticsme·tab·o·lite
/məˈtæbəˌɫaɪt/
Definition
n. a substance that is made or used by the body during the process of turning food into energy. It is a small part of the chemical reactions that keep you alive.
n. a substance that is produced or used in the metabolic processes of living organisms. Often refers to the intermediate or end products of biochemical pathways.
Examples
“The doctor tested the blood for a specific metabolite.”
“Researchers identified a unique metabolite in the plant that could potentially be used to treat certain types of inflammation.”
“The accumulation of a particular toxic metabolite in the liver can lead to cellular damage, highlighting the importance of efficient metabolic clearance mechanisms in maintaining overall health.”
Examples
simple
“The doctor tested the blood for a specific metabolite.”
contextual
“Researchers identified a unique metabolite in the plant that could potentially be used to treat certain types of inflammation.”
complex
“The accumulation of a particular toxic metabolite in the liver can lead to cellular damage, highlighting the importance of efficient metabolic clearance mechanisms in maintaining overall health.”
Real-World Examples
Common in science writing
“The first study found that plant fiber and certain plant proteins can change microbial metabolism in ways that increase beneficial metabolites while reducing harmful ones.” “After edible use, the metabolite 11-OH-THC (11-hydroxy-THC) is often more closely associated with impaired cognitive function than THC itself, which may be present at lower concentrations, says Marcotte.” Etymology
From metabolism + -ite.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/metabolite