Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Metabolic rate is the speed at which an organism's body uses energy or burns calories.
Related terms
Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR): This is the minimum metabolic rate needed to keep your body functioning while at rest - think of it as idling your car engine when parked.
Thermogenesis: The production of heat in organisms, akin to turning up the heater in a cold room.
The chemical processes occurring within a living cell or organism necessary for life - this can be compared with all the operations happening inside a factory.