BACK TO catabolism

catabolism vs. metabolism

catabolism

[ kuh-tab-uh-liz-uhm ]
noun
  1. destructive metabolism; the breaking down in living organisms of more complex substances into simpler ones, with the release of energy (opposed to anabolism).

metabolism

[ muh-tab-uh-liz-uhm ]
noun
  1. the sum of the physical and chemical processes in an organism by which its material substance is produced, maintained, and destroyed, and by which energy is made available.
  2. any basic process of organic functioning or operating: changes in the country's economic metabolism.