metabolic

[met-uh-bol-ik]

adjective

of, relating to, or affected by metabolism.

undergoing metamorphosis.

Origin of metabolic

1735–45; < Greek metabolikós changeable, equivalent to metabol(ḗ) (see metabolism) + -ikos -ic

Related formsmet·a·bol·i·cal·ly, adverbhy·per·met·a·bol·ic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Word Origin and History for hypermetabolic

metabolic

adj.

1845 in biological sense, from German metabolisch (1839), from Greek metabolikos "changeable," from metabole "a change, changing, a transition" (see metabolism). Used earlier in a general sense of "involving change" (1743). Related: Metabolically.

Medicine definitions for hypermetabolic

metabolic

[mĕt′ə-bŏl′ĭk]

adj.

Of, relating to, or resulting from metabolism.