metabolic (adj.)youdaoicibaDictYouDict[metabolic 词源字典]
1845 in biological sense, from German metabolisch (1839), from Greek metabolikos "changeable," from metabole "a change, changing, a transition" (see metabolism). Used earlier in a general sense of "involving change" (1743). Related: Metabolically.[metabolic etymology, metabolic origin, 英语词源]