basal metabolism

American  

noun

Physiology.

1. the minimal amount of energy necessary to maintain respiration, circulation, and other vital body functions while fasting and at total rest.

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basal metabolism British  

noun

1. the amount of energy required by an individual in the resting state, for such functions as breathing and circulation of the blood See basal metabolic rate

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basal metabolism Cultural  

1. The rate at which an inactive, resting organism expends energy.

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Etymology

Origin of basal metabolism

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

The relationship between basal metabolism and weight is complicated, however, Pontzer says.

From Scientific American • Jun. 14, 2023

Intuition might whisper that a brisk resting heart rate would also correlate with an increased basal metabolism, but that isn’t the case.

From Scientific American • Jun. 14, 2023

Its hormones regulate basal metabolism, oxygen use, nutrient metabolism, the production of ATP, and calcium homeostasis.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

As a result of Depression many hospitals have lately been giving cheap diagnostic services to put their expensive xray, basal metabolism and other machines to some profitable use.

From Time Magazine Archive

Solid sloping line represents regression of oxygen consumption on chamber air temperature for males and females, and the horizontal line, basal metabolism for males and females.

From Metabolic Adaptation to Climate and Distribution of the Raccoon Procyon Lotor and Other Procyonidae by Mahlke-Johnson, Kathleen P.