basal metabolic rate

American  

noun

Physiology.

1. the rate at which energy is expended in a basal condition, calculated as calories per hour per square meter of body surface and compared with a normal standard expressed as the percentage above or below the amount of oxygen normally used at rest, −15 to +5 percent being considered normal. BMR

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basal metabolic rate British  

noun

1.  BMR.  the rate at which heat is produced by the body at rest, 12 to 14 hours after eating, measured in kilocalories per square metre of body surface per hour

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basal metabolic rate Scientific  

1. The rate at which energy is used by an organism at complete rest, measured in humans by the heat given off per unit time, and expressed as the calories released per kilogram of body weight or per square meter of body surface per hour.

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Etymology

Origin of basal metabolic rate

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

Increasing your muscle mass raises your basal metabolic rate, meaning you'll burn more calories at rest.

From Salon • Sep. 12, 2023

These include: weight, body fat percentage, lean body mass, BMI, muscle weight, visceral fat, basal metabolic rate, bone mass, metabolic age, protein, and body water percentage.

From The Verge • Sep. 30, 2021

In reality, the basal metabolic rate depends on many other factors than just weight, height and age.

From Scientific American • Jul. 27, 2021

This causes a decrease in our basal metabolic rate, that is, the process of burning calories while we are at rest.

From Washington Post • Oct. 25, 2019

Bear in mind we are not office workers, sitting around idling at the basal metabolic rate.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich