chemosynthesis

American  

[kee-moh-sin-thuh-sis, kem-oh-] / ˌki moʊˈsɪn θə sɪs, ˌkɛm oʊ- /

noun

Biology, Biochemistry.

1. the synthesis of organic compounds within an organism, with chemical reactions providing the energy source.

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chemosynthesis British  

/ ˌkɛməʊsɪnˈθɛtɪk, ˌkɛməʊˈsɪnθɪsɪs /

noun

1. the formation of organic material by certain bacteria using energy derived from simple chemical reactions

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chemosynthesis Scientific  

/ kē′mō-sĭn′thĭ-sĭs /

1. The formation of organic compounds using the energy released from chemical reactions instead of the energy of sunlight. Bacteria living in aphotic areas of the ocean are able to survive by chemosynthesis. They use energy derived from the oxidation of inorganic chemicals, such as sulfur released from deep hydrothermal vents, to produce their food.

2. Compare photosynthesis

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Other Word Forms

• chemosynthetic adjective
• chemosynthetically adverb

Etymology

Origin of chemosynthesis

First recorded in 1900–05; chemo- + synthesis

Compare meaning

How does chemosynthesis compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• chemosynthesis vs. photosynthesis

Example Sentences

These hydrothermal vents are energy-rich habitats based on chemosynthesis where microorganisms from the base of the food webs.

From Science Daily • Mar. 15, 2024

But these bacteria devour sulfides to generate energy in a process known as chemosynthesis.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2022

Phytoplankton release over 50% of the oxygen produced on Earth through chemosynthesis.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Unlike surface life, which requires the sun’s light to survive, these life forms lived off the chemical energy in these super-hot toxic plumes—a process called chemosynthesis.

From Scientific American • Feb. 12, 2018

Suffocating as she was in that rubble, she could have come alive in a diminished form like all other creatures of chemosynthesis.

From Tokyo to Tijuana: Gabriele Departing America by Sills, Steven (Steven David Justin)