saprobe

[sap-rohb]

noun

Biology.

1. saprophyte.

saprobe

/ ˈsæprəʊb /

noun

1. an organism, esp a fungus, that lives on decaying organisms; a saprotroph See also saprophyte

Other Word Forms

• saprobic adjective
• saprobically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of saprobe¹

First recorded in 1932; sapro- + (micro)be

Word History and Origins

Origin of saprobe¹

C20: from Greek, from _sapro- + bios life

Example Sentences

"The snake fungus has the ability, just like the bat fungus, to live as a saprobe, consuming dead organic matter," Miller said.

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