autotroph
Americannoun
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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.
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Compare heterotroph
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of autotroph
1935–40; back formation from autotrophic; see auto- 1, trophic
Compare meaning
How does autotroph compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
An autotroph is a plant that can make its own food. Autotroph is a biological term that breaks down to mean "self-" (auto-) "nourishing" (troph). Autotrophic organisms synthesize their own food from simple organic substances. If you were an autotroph, you wouldn’t need to eat and you’d still have plenty of energy. But if that were the case, you’d also probably be a glob of algae.
Vocabulary lists containing autotroph
Ecology - Middle School
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Ecology - High School
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Photosynthesis - Middle School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Alexander Dzurec with the architecture firm Autotroph filed the application for the height exemption and said Tuesday that the library was intended to house “a very sizable collection” of literature and “other collectibles”.
From The Guardian • Sep. 10, 2020
Alexander Dzurec with the architecture firm Autotroph Inc. filed the application for the height exemption and said Tuesday that the library was intended to house “a very sizable collection” of literature and “other collectibles.”
From Seattle Times • Sep. 10, 2020
Alexander Dzurec with the architecture firm Autotroph Inc. filed the application for the height exemption and said Tuesday that the library was intended to house “a very sizable collection” of literature and “other collectibles.”
From Washington Times • Sep. 10, 2020
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
