metatrophic

[met-uh-trof-ik, -troh-fik]

requiring dead organic matter for food.

Origin of metatrophic

First recorded in 1895–1900; meta- + trophic

Related formsmet·a·troph

[met-uh-trof, -trawf] /ˈmɛt əˌtrɒf, -ˌtrɔf/, nounme·tat·ro·phy

[muh-ta-truh-fee] /məˈtæ trə fi/, noun

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

It is very probable that anarobes, exclusive of a few nitrogen absorbers, are metatrophic for all the elements they utilize.
The Fundamentals of Bacteriology
Charles Bradfield Morrey

metatrophic in Medicine

[mĕt′ə-trŏf′ĭk, -trō′fĭk]

Of or relating to the ability to undertake anabolism.

Of or relating to the ability to obtain nourishment from varied sources, as from nitrogenous and carbonaceous organic matter.