homeostasis
/ˌhəʊ.mi.əʊˈsteɪ.sɪs/ IELTSAcademic
noun
the process by which a body or system keeps its internal conditions steady, even when outside conditions change. In biology, it often means keeping temperature, water, and other levels balanced.
- Exercise can disturb your body's homeostasis.
- The body works to restore homeostasis.
- Homeostasis keeps internal conditions stable.
Adinary Nuance
Homeostasis is more specific than balance. It means a system actively keeps itself stable, not just that things are equal. It is also more technical than words like stability or equilibrium, which can be used more broadly. In science writing, homeostasis is the best choice when you mean the body's self-correcting control.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- hằng định nội môi
- Spanish
- homeostasis
- Chinese
- 内稳态
- Japanese
- 恒常性
- Korean
- 항상성
Etymology
Homeostasis comes from Greek roots meaning “same” and “standing still” or “stable.” The word entered English in the early 1900s, mainly in biology.
Common phrases
maintain homeostasisdisrupt homeostasisrestore homeostasisbody's homeostasis
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is homeostasis a common word in everyday English?
- No. It is common in biology, medicine, and academic writing, but less common in everyday speech.
- What is the difference between homeostasis and balance?
- Balance is general. Homeostasis means the body or system actively keeps internal conditions stable.
- Can I use homeostasis in IELTS writing?
- Yes. It is useful in academic topics about biology, health, and the human body.
- Does homeostasis only refer to the human body?
- No. It can also describe animals, plants, and some systems or machines.