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Metabolism: alternatives and connections

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Metabolism

The act or process, by which living tissues or cells take up and convert into their own proper substance the nutritive material brought to them by the blood, or by which they transform their cell protoplasm into simpler substances, which are fitted either for excretion or for some special purpose, as in the manufacture of the digestive ferments. Hence, metabolism may be either constructive (anabolism), or destructive (katabolism).

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Reviewed alternatives and contrasts

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Narrower term 1

Respiration 76% connected

The act of respiring or breathing again, or catching one's breath.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

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Derivationally related 2

Metamorphic 74% connected

Subject to change; changeable; variable.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

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Metamorphic 74% connected

Subject to change; changeable; variable.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

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Component part 3

Anabolism 70% connected

The constructive metabolism of the body, as distinguished from katabolism.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a member, substance or component part.

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Dissimilation 70% connected

The act of making dissimilar.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

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Katabolism 70% connected

Destructive or downward metabolism; regressive metamorphism; -- opposed to anabolism. See Disassimilation.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

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Synonym 1

Metamorphosis 92% connected

Change of form, or structure; transformation.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

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Words from the same subject

These terms belong to the same specialist field or topic. They help you explore the subject, but they are not automatically synonyms.

Deoxyribonucleic acid noun · 85% connection

(biochemistry) a long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix; associ…

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry.
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Desoxyribonucleic acid noun · 85% connection

(biochemistry) a long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix; associ…

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry.
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DNA noun · 85% connection

(biochemistry) a long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix; associ…

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry.
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Oligo noun · 85% connection

(biochemistry) a polynucleotide whose molecules contain relatively few nucleotides

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry.
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Oligonucleotide noun · 85% connection

(biochemistry) a polynucleotide whose molecules contain relatively few nucleotides

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry.
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Polynucleotide noun · 85% connection

(biochemistry) a linear polymer whose molecule is composed of many nucleotide units constituting a section of a nucleic acid molecule

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry.
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Ribonucleic acid noun · 85% connection

(biochemistry) a long linear polymer of nucleotides found in the nucleus but mainly in the cytoplasm of a cell where it is associated…

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry.
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RNA noun · 85% connection

(biochemistry) a long linear polymer of nucleotides found in the nucleus but mainly in the cytoplasm of a cell where it is associated…

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry.
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Adenosine triphosphate noun · 85% connection

a nucleotide derived from adenosine that occurs in muscle tissue; the major source of energy for cellular reactions

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry.
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amino acid noun · 85% connection

organic compounds containing an amino group and a carboxylic acid group; "proteins are composed of various proportions of about 20 com…

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry.
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Aminoalkanoic acid noun · 85% connection

organic compounds containing an amino group and a carboxylic acid group; "proteins are composed of various proportions of about 20 com…

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry.
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ATP noun · 85% connection

a nucleotide derived from adenosine that occurs in muscle tissue; the major source of energy for cellular reactions

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry.
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Enzyme noun · 85% connection

any of several complex proteins that are produced by cells and act as catalysts in specific biochemical reactions

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry.
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photosynthesis noun · 85% connection

synthesis of compounds with the aid of radiant energy (especially in plants)

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry.
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Protein noun · 85% connection

any of a large group of nitrogenous organic compounds that are essential constituents of living cells; consist of polymers of amino ac…

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry.
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Acceptor RNA noun · 85% connection

RNA molecules present in the cell (in at least 20 varieties, each variety capable of combining with a specific amino acid) that attach…

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry.
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Informational RNA noun · 85% connection

the template for protein synthesis; the form of RNA that carries information from DNA in the nucleus to the ribosome sites of protein…

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry.
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Medulla noun · 85% connection

a white fatty substance that forms a medullary sheath around the axis cylinder of some nerve fibers

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry.
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Words connected by meaning

Their definitions overlap or refer to similar ideas. Use these to widen your search, then compare the exact meanings.

Arterialize verb · 78% connection

To transform, as the venous blood, into arterial blood by exposure to oxygen in the lungs; to make arterial.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: living, tissues, cells, take, convert.
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Biomedical cloning noun · 78% connection

nuclear transplantation of a patient's own cells to make an oocyte from which immune-compatible cells (especially stem cells) can be d…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: living, tissues, cells, take, convert.
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Blood noun · 78% connection

the fluid (red in vertebrates) that is pumped through the body by the heart and contains plasma, blood cells, and platelets; "blood ca…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: living, tissues, cells, take, convert.
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CD4 cell noun · 78% connection

T cell with CD4 receptor that recognizes antigens on the surface of a virus-infected cell and secretes lymphokines that stimulate B ce…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: living, tissues, cells, take, convert.
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CD4 T cell noun · 78% connection

T cell with CD4 receptor that recognizes antigens on the surface of a virus-infected cell and secretes lymphokines that stimulate B ce…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: living, tissues, cells, take, convert.
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Circulation noun · 78% connection

The movement of the blood in the blood-vascular system, by which it is brought into close relations with almost every living elementar…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: living, tissues, cells, take, convert.
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Convert verb · 78% connection

To change or turn from one state or condition to another; to alter in form, substance, or quality; to transform; to transmute; as, to…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: living, tissues, cells, take, convert.
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Diapedesis noun · 78% connection

The passage of the corpuscular elements of the blood from the blood vessels into the surrounding tissues, without rupture of the walls…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: living, tissues, cells, take, convert.
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Digest verb · 78% connection

To separate (the food) in its passage through the alimentary canal into the nutritive and nonnutritive elements; to prepare, by the ac…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: living, tissues, cells, take, convert.
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Embolus noun · 78% connection

A plug of some substance lodged in a blood vessel, being brought thither by the blood current. It consists most frequently of a clot o…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: living, tissues, cells, take, convert.
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Epithelium noun · 78% connection

The superficial layer of cells lining the alimentary canal and all its appendages, all glands and their ducts, blood vessels and lymph…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: living, tissues, cells, take, convert.
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Filaria noun · 78% connection

slender threadlike roundworms living in the blood and tissues of vertebrates; transmitted as larvae by biting insects

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: living, tissues, cells, take, convert.
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