[me.tab.o.lism] n [ISV, fr. Gk metabole change, fr. metaballein to change, fr. meta- + ballein to throw--more at devil] (1872) 1 a: the sum of the processes in the buildup and destruction of protoplasm; specif: the chemical changes in living cells by which energy is provided for vital processes and activities and new material is assimilated b: the sum of the processes by which a particular substance is handled in the living body c: the sum of the metabolic activities taking place in a particular environment "the ~ of a lake"
2: metamorphosis 2--usu. used in combination "holometabolism"