catabolic

[ kat-uh-bol-ik ]

adjective

, Biology, Physiology.

1. involving or stimulating the breakdown of complex substances into simpler ones as part of the process of metabolism in living organisms ( anabolic ):

   The protein catabolic rate is the rate at which proteins break down in the body.

Other Words From

• cat·a·bol·i·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of catabolic¹

catabol(ism) ( def ) + -ic