heterotroph

[ het-er-uh-trof, -trohf ]

/ ˈhɛt ər əˌtrɒf, -ˌtroʊf /

noun

Biology. an organism requiring organic compounds for its principal source of food.

Nearby words

heterotopia, heterotransplant, heterotransplantation, heterotrich, heterotrichosis, heterotroph, heterotrophic, heterotropia, heterotypic, heterotypic cortex, heterotypical chromosome

Compare autotroph.

Origin of heterotroph

First recorded in 1895–1900; hetero- + -troph

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Medicine definitions for heterotroph

heterotroph

[ hĕt′ər-ə-trŏf′, -trōf′ ]

n.

An organism that cannot synthesize its own food and is dependent upon complex organic substances for nutrition.

Related forms

het′er•o•troph′ic (-trŏf′ĭk, -trō′fĭk) adj.het′er•ot′ro•phy (-ə-rŏt′rə-fē) n.

Science definitions for heterotroph

heterotroph

[ hĕt′ər-ə-trŏf′ ]

An organism that cannot manufacture its own food and instead obtains its food and energy by taking in organic substances, usually plant or animal matter. All animals, protozoans, fungi, and most bacteria are heterotrophs. Compare autotroph.

Related forms

heterotrophic adjective (hĕt′ər-ə-trŏf′ĭk)