• Sum of chemical changes that occur within the tissues of an organism consisting of anabolism (biosynthesis) and catabolism; the buildup and breakdown of molecules for utilization by the organism.
  CRISP Thesaurus
  National Institutes of Health, 2006
• The chemical changes that take place in a cell or an organism. These changes make energy and the materials cells and organisms need to grow, reproduce, and stay healthy. Metabolism also helps get rid of toxic substances.
  NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
  U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
• The chemical reactions in living organisms by which energy is provided for vital processes and activities and new material is assimilated.
  NLM Medical Subject Headings
  U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
• The chemical reactions that occur in all living organisms to maintain life. An example is converting food into energy that the body needs to function.
  Harvard Dictionary of Health Terms
  Harvard Medical Publishing, 2011
• (metabolic process) The chemical reactions and pathways, including anabolism and catabolism, by which living organisms transform chemical substances. Metabolic processes typically transform small molecules, but also include macromolecular processes such as DNA repair and replication, and protein synthesis and degradation.
  Gene Ontology Dictionary
  Gene Ontology Consortium, 2021
• (intermediary metabolic process) All the reactions in an organism concerned with storing and generating metabolic energy and with the biosynthesis of low-molecular weight compounds, energy-storage compounds, and basic materials needed for important life processes. It does not include nucleic acid and protein synthesis.
  NCI Thesaurus
  U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021