anabolism
Americannoun
noun
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The phase of metabolism in which complex molecules, such as the proteins and fats that make up body tissue, are formed from simpler ones.
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Compare catabolism
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Athletes often attempt to improve their performance by speeding up this molecule-building process through the use of drugs called anabolic steroids, despite the potential health risks involved. This use is outlawed in many athletic competitions, such as the Olympic Games.
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Etymology
Origin of anabolism
First recorded in 1885–90; ana- + (meta)bolism
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Vocabulary lists containing anabolism
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The cell also must generate a number of intermediate compounds that are used in the anabolism and catabolism of macromolecules.
From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022
On the other end of the spectrum, anabolism refers to metabolic processes that build complex molecules out of simpler ones, such as the synthesis of macromolecules.
From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022
Metabolism is the sum of all of the chemical reactions that are involved in catabolism and anabolism.
From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013
Both anabolism and catabolism occur simultaneously and continuously to keep you alive.
From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013
We may thus regard every centre of anabolism as a negative pole of diffusion.
From The Mechanism of Life by Leduc, Stéphane
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
