catabolic
[ kat-uh-bol-ik ]
/ ˌkæt əˈbɒl ɪk /
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adjective Biology, Physiology.
involving or stimulating the breakdown of complex substances into simpler ones as part of the process of metabolism in living organisms (opposed to anabolic): The protein catabolic rate is the rate at which proteins break down in the body.
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Origin of catabolic
OTHER WORDS FROM catabolic
cat·a·bol·i·cal·ly, adverbWords nearby catabolic
cat, cata-, catabaptist, catabasis, catabiotic, catabolic, catabolism, catabolite, catabolite gene activator protein, catabolize, catacaustic
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022