METABOLISM

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does metabolism mean? 

• METABOLISM (noun)
  The noun METABOLISM has 2 senses:

1. the marked and rapid transformation of a larva into an adult that occurs in some animals

2. the organic processes (in a cell or organism) that are necessary for life

  Familiarity information: METABOLISM used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• METABOLISM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The marked and rapid transformation of a larva into an adult that occurs in some animals

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Synonyms:

metabolism; metamorphosis

Hypernyms ("metabolism" is a kind of...):

biological process; organic process (a process occurring in living organisms)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "metabolism"):

hemimetabolism; hemimetaboly; hemimetamorphosis (incomplete or partial metamorphosis in insects)

heterometabolism; heterometaboly (development of insects with incomplete metamorphosis in which no pupal stage precedes maturity)

holometabolism; holometaboly (complete metamorphosis in insects)

Derivation:

metabolic; metabolous (undergoing metamorphosis)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The organic processes (in a cell or organism) that are necessary for life

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Synonyms:

metabolic process; metabolism

Hypernyms ("metabolism" is a kind of...):

biological process; organic process (a process occurring in living organisms)

Meronyms (parts of "metabolism"):

anabolism; constructive metabolism (the synthesis in living organisms of more complex substances (e.g., living tissue) from simpler ones together with the storage of energy)

catabolism; destructive metabolism; dissimilation; katabolism (breakdown in living organisms of more complex substances into simpler ones together with release of energy)

citric acid cycle; Krebs citric acid cycle; Krebs cycle; tricarboxylic acid cycle (in all plants and animals: a series of enzymatic reactions in mitochondria involving oxidative metabolism of acetyl compounds to produce high-energy phosphate compounds that are the source of cellular energy)

Domain category:

being; organism (a living thing that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independently)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "metabolism"):

cellular respiration; internal respiration; respiration (the metabolic processes whereby certain organisms obtain energy from organic molecules; processes that take place in the cells and tissues during which energy is released and carbon dioxide is produced and absorbed by the blood to be transported to the lungs)

basal metabolism (the amount of energy required to maintain the body of an individual in a resting state)

fat metabolism (a metabolic process that breaks down ingested fats into fatty acids and glycerol and then into simpler compounds that can be used by cells of the body)

glycolysis (a metabolic process that breaks down carbohydrates and sugars through a series of reactions to either pyruvic acid or lactic acid and releases energy for the body in the form of ATP)

Derivation:

metabolic (of or relating to metabolism)

metabolize (produce by metabolism)

 Context examples 

Applying state-of-the-art genome sequencing methods has revealed these novel metabolisms.

(Arsenic-breathing microbes discovered in the tropical Pacific Ocean, National Science Foundation)

This protein plays a role in folate metabolism.

(Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase, NCI Thesaurus)

This gene is involved in nucleotide metabolism and signal transduction.

(ADCY9 Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

This gene is involved in the metabolism of alcohols.

(ADH1C Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

This protein plays a role in vitamin metabolism.

(Methylmalonic Aciduria and Homocystinuria Type D Protein, Mitochondrial, NCI Thesaurus)

This gene plays a role in the metabolism of leukotriene C4.

(MGST2 Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

This gene is involved in acetyl-CoA metabolism.

(ACLY Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

Any substance involved in metabolism, either as a product of metabolism or as necessary for metabolism.

(Metabolite, NCI Thesaurus)

This allele, which encodes alcohol dehydrogenase 4 protein, is involved in the metabolism of alcohols.

(ADH4 wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

Metabolism is the process your body uses to get or make energy from the food you eat.

(Metabolic Disorders, NIH)