Main Entry: ca·tab·o·lism

Pronunciation: \kə-ˈta-bə-ˌli-zəm\

Function: noun

Etymology: Greek katabolē throwing down, from kataballein to throw down, from kata- + ballein to throw — more at devil

Date: 1876

: degradative metabolism involving the release of energy and resulting in the breakdown of complex materials (as proteins or lipids) within the organism — compare anabolism

— cat·a·bol·ic \ˌka-tə-ˈbä-lik\ adjective

— cat·a·bol·i·cal·ly \-li-k(ə-)lē\ adverb