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heterotrophic
[ het-er-uh-trof-ik, -troh-fik ]
/ ˌhɛt ər əˈtrɒf ɪk, -ˈtroʊ fɪk /
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adjective Biology.
capable of utilizing only organic materials as a source of food.
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Words nearby heterotrophic
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
How to use heterotrophic in a sentence
Should the compound be inorganic, the term autotrophic is applied to the organism and heterotrophic if the compound is organic.
The Fundamentals of Bacteriology|Charles Bradfield Morrey
British Dictionary definitions for heterotrophic
heterotrophic
/ (ˌhɛtərəʊˈtrɒfɪk) /
adjective
(of organisms, such as animals) obtaining carbon for growth and energy from complex organic compoundsCompare autotrophic
Derived forms of heterotrophic
heterotroph, nounWord Origin for heterotrophic
C20: from hetero- + Greek trophikos concerning food, from trophē nourishment
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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