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autotroph
[ aw-tuh-trof, -trohf ]
/ ˈɔ təˌtrɒf, -ˌtroʊf /
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noun Biology.
any organism capable of self-nourishment by using inorganic materials as a source of nutrients and using photosynthesis or chemosynthesis as a source of energy, as most plants and certain bacteria and protists.
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QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
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Which sentence is correct?
Compare heterotroph.
OTHER WORDS FROM autotroph
au·to·troph·ic, adjectiveWords nearby autotroph
autotoxicosis, autotoxin, autotransformer, autotransfusion, autotransplant, autotroph, autotrophic, autotruck, Auto-Tune, autotype, autowinder
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Scientific definitions for autotroph
autotroph
[ ô′tə-trŏf′ ]
An organism that manufactures its own food from inorganic substances, such as carbon dioxide and ammonia. Most autotrophs, such as green plants, certain algae, and photosynthetic bacteria, use light for energy. Some autotrophs, such as chemosynthetic bacteria, obtain their energy from inorganic compounds such as hydrogen sulfide by combining them with oxygen. Compare heterotroph.
Other words from autotroph
autotrophic adjective (ô′tə-trŏf′ĭk, -trō′fĭk)The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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