/ məˈtæbəlɪzəm; NAmE / noun
[ U , sing. ] ( biology ) the chemical processes in living things that change food, etc. into energy and materials for growth :
The body's metabolism is slowed down by extreme cold.
► meta·bol·ic / ˌmetəˈbɒlɪk; NAmE -ˈbɑːl-/ adjective [ usually before noun ]:
a metabolic process / disorder
a high / low metabolic rate
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WORD ORIGIN
late 19th cent.: from Greek metabolē change (from metaballein to change) + -ism .