metabolism

plural metabolisms

1. countableuncountablemedicineThe chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life.

   The metabolisms of aerobic bacteria require oxygen

2. broadlycountableuncountablemedicineThe rate at which these processes occur for a given organism

   Small animals have a much higher metabolism than large animals because they lose more body heat

3. broadlycountablefigurativelyuncountableThe processes that maintain any dynamic system.

   The results of this generalized speedup of the corporate metabolism are multiple: shorter product life cycles, more leasing and renting, more frequent buying and selling, more ephemeral consumption patterns, […]

   1980, Alvin Toffler, The Third Wave, page 230

1. A post-war Japanese architectural movement that fused ideas about architectural megastructures with those of organic biological growth.