phototroph

[ foh-tuh-trof, -trohf ]

/ ˈfoʊ təˌtrɒf, -ˌtroʊf /

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noun Biology.

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

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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Origin of phototroph

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

OTHER WORDS FROM phototroph

pho·to·troph·ic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for phototroph

phototroph

/ (ˈfəʊtəʊˌtrɒf) /

noun

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

Derived forms of phototroph

phototrophic (ˌfəʊtəʊˈtrɒfɪk), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for phototroph

phototroph

[ fō′tə-trŏf′ ]

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