metabolism

1. (physiology) The chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life.Examples: "The metabolisms of aerobic bacteria require oxygen"countableuncountable

2. (physiology, by extension) The rate at which these processes occur for a given organismExamples: "Small animals have a much higher metabolism than large animals because they lose more body heat"broadlycountableuncountable

3. (figurative, by extension) The processes that maintain any dynamic system.Examples: "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, […]"broadlycountablefigurativelyuncountable