heterotroph [het -er-uh -trof, -trohf]
Word Origin
Biology an organism requiring organic compounds for its principal source of food. Show More
Origin of heterotroph First recorded in
1895–1900; hetero- +
-troph Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Word Origin and History for heterotrophs n. 1900, from hetero- + Greek trophos "feeder" (see -trophy ). Related: Heterotrophic (1893).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
heterotroph [hĕt′ ər-ə-trŏf′, -trōf′]
An organism that cannot synthesize its own food and is dependent upon complex organic substances for nutrition. Show More
Related forms 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.
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 .Show More
Related forms heterotrophic adjective (hĕt′ər-ə-trŏf′ ĭk ) The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
