autophagy

IPA/ɔːˈtɒfədʒi/
IPA/ɔːˈtɑːfədʒi/

autophagy — noun

1. A natural process inside living cells that breaks down and recycles damaged or u

1.名詞C1
釋義

A natural process inside living cells that breaks down and recycles damaged or unneeded parts to maintain health and produce energy.

例句

During a long fast, autophagy helps Anthony's cells remove damaged parts and stay healthy.

collocation: autophagy + helps [possessor's] cells + remove damaged parts

Gita's doctor explained that regular exercise can increase autophagy and slow cell damage.

that-clause: explain that [subject] can increase autophagy

同義詞
  • autophagocytosis

    a more technical equivalent for the same process, less frequently used in modern writing

文法句型

typically used as an uncountable noun in scientific contexts

用法筆記

Common in scientific and medical writing rather than everyday speech. Often appears in compounds such as 'autophagy pathway' and 'autophagy process.'

常見錯誤

Apoptosis and autophagy both mean the same thing.
Apoptosis is programmed cell death, while autophagy is cellular recycling.
💡These are different processes; autophagy recycles components while apoptosis destroys the entire cell.