catabolism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “catabolism” mean?
The metabolic breakdown of complex molecules into simpler ones, releasing energy.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The metabolic breakdown of complex molecules into simpler ones, releasing energy.
Any destructive metabolic process by which living organisms break down substances; more broadly, any process of disintegration or breakdown.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. The term is uniformly technical.
Connotations
Purely scientific/medical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects, confined to specialist contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “catabolism” in a Sentence
the catabolism of [substance][substance] catabolismcatabolism in [organism/tissue]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “catabolism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The body will catabolise muscle tissue during prolonged starvation.
- These enzymes help to catabolise fatty acids.
American English
- The body will catabolize muscle tissue during prolonged starvation.
- These enzymes help to catabolize fatty acids.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form in use]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form in use]
adjective
British English
- The catabolic state was measured by increased nitrogen excretion.
- Cortisol has a strong catabolic effect on proteins.
American English
- The catabolic state was measured by increased nitrogen excretion.
- Cortisol has a strong catabolic effect on proteins.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in biochemistry, biology, and medical textbooks/research.
Everyday
Extremely rare; only in contexts discussing diet, exercise, or illness with a scientific slant.
Technical
The primary domain of use.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “catabolism”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “catabolism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “catabolism”
- Misspelling as 'catobolism' or 'catabalism'.
- Using it as a general synonym for 'decline' outside of biochemical contexts.
- Confusing it with 'metabolism' (which includes both catabolism and anabolism).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a normal, essential physiological process. It becomes problematic when excessive, such as in severe illness or starvation, leading to muscle wasting.
Metabolism is the entire set of life-sustaining chemical reactions. Catabolism is one half of metabolism (the breaking-down part), while anabolism (the building-up part) is the other.
Digesting food is a catabolic process. Large molecules in your meal are broken down into smaller ones (like glucose) that your cells can use.
The adjective is 'catabolic' (e.g., a catabolic hormone like cortisol).
The metabolic breakdown of complex molecules into simpler ones, releasing energy.
Catabolism is usually technical/scientific in register.
Catabolism: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈtæb.əl.ɪ.zəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˈtæb.əˌlɪz.əm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this technical term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'CAT-astrophe' for breaking things down. A cat tears apart a toy (catabolism), while you build a new one (anabolism).
Conceptual Metaphor
DEMOLITION (catabolism is the controlled demolition of molecules to extract useful energy).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary result of catabolism?