phototroph

[ foh-tuh-trof, -trohf ]

noun

, Biology.

1. any organism that uses light as its principal source of energy.

phototroph

/ ˌfəʊtəʊˈtrɒfɪk; ˈfəʊtəʊˌtrɒf /

noun

1. an organism that obtains energy from sunlight for the synthesis of organic compounds

phototroph

/ fō′tə-trŏf′ /

1. An organism that manufactures its own food from inorganic substances using light for energy. Green plants, certain algae, and photosynthetic bacteria are phototrophs.
2. Also called photoautotroph

Derived Forms

• phototrophic, adjective

Other Words From

• photo·trophic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of phototroph¹

First recorded in 1940–45; photo- + -troph