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

“That’s another contributor to your overall energy expenditure, in addition to basal metabolism and active energy expenditure.”

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

For most patients, the old-fashioned basal metabolism test is a mild form of torture, but that would be no reason for discarding it if it were a consistently accurate test.

From Time Magazine Archive

Sloping lines represent regressions of oxygen consumption on chamber air temperature, and horizontal lines, basal metabolism.

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