CATABOLISM

[ca.tab.o.lism] n [Gk katabole throwing down, fr. kataballein to throw down, fr. kata- + ballein to throw--more at devil] (1876): destructive metabolism involving the release of energy and resulting in the breakdown of complex materials within the organism--compare anabolism -- cat.a.bol.ic adj -- cat.a.bol.i.cal.ly adv