anabolic

Everyday

1. (science) Anabolic means building up bigger molecules from smaller ones in the body, like building muscle and growing. tree →
2. Anabolic steroids are drugs that build muscle; using them in sport is cheating and can harm health. tree →

In the lessons

Used in biology (anabolism, the opposite of catabolism), health and sport news about doping and banned drugs.

Examples

• Growth is an anabolic process. tree →
• Anabolic reactions use energy to build new tissue. tree →
• The athlete was banned for taking anabolic steroids. tree →
• Anabolic steroids can damage the heart and liver. tree →
• Sleep helps the body's anabolic work of repair. tree →
• Building proteins from amino acids is anabolic. tree →

Note

Science word. Opposite: «catabolic» (breaking down). Anabolic steroids are not the same as steroid medicines like asthma inhalers or creams, which doctors give safely.