metabolism
noun /məˈtæbəlɪzəm/
/məˈtæbəlɪzəm/
[uncountable, countable] (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.
Word Originlate 19th cent.: from Greek metabolē ‘change’ (from metaballein ‘to change’) + -ism.