Origin: Greek suffix -ism
Metabolism has 4 different meanings across 2 categories:
the marked and rapid transformation of a larva into an adult that occurs in some animals
"The caterpillar's astonishing metamorphosis was so fast it seemed like its entire metabolism had been hijacked to rebuild itself into a butterfly overnight."
the organic processes (in a cell or organism) that are necessary for life
"After eating a heavy meal, I felt sluggish because my metabolism seemed too slow to process all the food efficiently."
The chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life.
"After his intense workout, he realized his metabolism had kicked into overdrive as his body worked hard to repair muscle tissue and restore energy stores."
In plain English: Metabolism is the process your body uses to turn food into energy for everything you do.
"My metabolism is very fast, so I feel hungry almost all day."
Usage: Metabolism refers to the natural set of chemical reactions inside your body that convert food into energy and sustain life. You should use this term when discussing how efficiently your body burns calories or regulates bodily functions, rather than for specific medical conditions like a "metabolic disorder" unless referring to those underlying processes.
A post-war Japanese architectural movement that fused ideas about architectural megastructures with those of organic biological growth.
"The architect admired how the building's design embodied metabolism, seamlessly merging massive concrete frameworks with flowing, plant-like structures to create a dynamic urban oasis."
The word metabolism comes from the Ancient Greek metabolē, meaning "change." It entered English with this original sense of transformation or alteration.