Meaning & use
thermogenesis
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Meanings
noununcountabletechnicalbiology
The biological process by which an organism produces heat, especially in the body of warm-blooded animals.
Grammar: Uncountable; used without 'a' or plural: 'Thermogenesis increases in cold conditions.'
Patterns
- thermogenesis in something
- increase thermogenesis
- thermogenesis occurs
Shivering is a rapid form of thermogenesis that helps the body stay warm.
Brown fat tissue is specialized for thermogenesis, burning energy to produce heat.
The study measured thermogenesis in mice exposed to cold temperatures.
noununcountabletechnicalbiology
The production of heat by metabolic processes, often discussed in relation to burning calories.
Grammar: Uncountable; often used with words like 'diet-induced' or 'adaptive'.
Patterns
- diet-induced thermogenesis
- adaptive thermogenesis
- stimulate thermogenesis
Some supplements claim to boost thermogenesis and help with weight loss.
Adaptive thermogenesis can slow weight loss by reducing energy expenditure.
Eating protein increases diet-induced thermogenesis slightly.
Common combinations
- brown fat thermogenesis
- Brown fat thermogenesis is an important source of heat in newborns.
- stimulate thermogenesis
- Cold exposure can stimulate thermogenesis in certain tissues.
- thermogenesis pathway
- Researchers identified a new thermogenesis pathway in muscle cells.
- increase thermogenesis
- Certain foods may increase thermogenesis after a meal.
Synonyms and how they differ
- heat production
- A general term; 'thermogenesis' is the technical term used in biology and medicine.
Word family
- thermogenic adjective
- Relating to or causing heat production, as in 'thermogenic drugs'.
- thermoregulation noun
- The process by which an organism controls its body temperature.
Commonly confused: thermogenesis or thermogenesis vs thermoregulation?
thermogenesis vs thermogenesis vs thermoregulation
Thermogenesis is the production of heat; thermoregulation is the control of body temperature, which may involve thermogenesis.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'thermogenesis' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Thermogenesis refers to the biological production of heat, so shivering as a heat-generating process is correct. The other options confuse it with a device (thermometer) or with temperature measurement.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “thermogenesis”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.