biological clock

biological clock
biological clock n an inherent timing mechanism in a living system (as a cell) that is inferred to exist in order to explain various cyclical behaviors and physiological processes

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the physiologic mechanism that governs the rhythmic occurrence of certain biochemical, physiological, and behavioral phenomena in plants and animals.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • biological clock — n [singular] 1.) technical the system in plants and animals that controls when they sleep, eat, produce babies etc = ↑body clock 2.) the idea that when a woman reaches a certain age, she will soon be too old to have a baby ▪ career women who hear …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • biological clock — noun count 1. ) a system in the body that controls when certain regular activities happen, for example sleeping: BODY CLOCK 2. ) INFORMAL a woman s need to have children before she reaches a certain age and can no longer physically do so: She… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • biological clock — biological clocks N COUNT: oft poss N Your biological clock is your body s way of registering time. It does not rely on events such as day or night, but on factors such as your habits, your age, and chemical changes taking place in your body.… …   English dictionary

  • biological clock — n. 1. any of the various natural cycles in organisms that are related to the tides, sun, moon, light, temperature, etc. and that control breeding, feeding, migration, etc. 2. Informal a person s life cycle; specif., the period of human fertility… …   English World dictionary

  • biological clock — ► NOUN ▪ an innate mechanism that controls the cyclical physiological activities of an organism …   English terms dictionary

  • biological clock — noun an innate mechanism in living organisms that controls the periodicity of many physiological functions • Hypernyms: ↑mechanism * * * noun, pl ⋯ clocks [count] : a system in the body that controls the occurrence of natural processes (such as… …   Useful english dictionary

  • biological clock — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms biological clock : singular biological clock plural biological clocks 1) a system in the body that controls when certain regular activities happen, for example sleeping 2) informal a woman s need to have… …   English dictionary

  • biological clock — noun a) Any of several mechanisms that regulate the periodicity of biological functions b) The progression from puberty to menopause during which a woman can bear children Syn: body clock …   Wiktionary

  • biological clock — noun (singular) 1 technical the time system in plants and animals that controls behaviour such as sleeping and eating, body clock 2 technical the idea that when a woman reaches a certain age, she will soon be too old to have a baby …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • biological clock — biolog′ical clock′ n. 1) phl an innate mechanism of the body that regulates its rhythmic and periodic cycles, as that of sleeping and waking 2) cvb such a mechanism perceived as inexorably marking the passage of one s youth and esp. one s ability …   From formal English to slang

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