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heterotroph
[ het-er-uh-trof, -trohf ]
/ ˈhɛt ər əˌtrɒf, -ˌtroʊf /
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noun
Biology. an organism requiring organic compounds for its principal source of food.
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We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms.
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Which of the following words describes “sky blue”?
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Compare autotroph.
Words nearby heterotroph
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Medical 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.
Other words from heterotroph
het′er•o•troph′ic (-trŏf′ĭk, -trō′fĭk) adj.het′er•ot′ro•phy (-ə-rŏt′rə-fē) n.The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Scientific 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.
Other words from heterotroph
heterotrophic adjective (hĕt′ər-ə-trŏf′ĭk)The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.