trophic

¹

[ trof-ik, troh-fik ]

adjective

1. of or relating to nutrition; concerned in nutritive processes.

-trophic

²

1. a combining form with the meanings “having nutritional habits or requirements” of the kind specified by the initial element ( autotrophic ), “affecting the activity of, maintaining” that specified ( gonadotrophic ) (in this sense often interchangeable with -tropic ); also forming adjectives corresponding to nouns ending in -troph or -trophy ( hypertrophic ).

trophic

/ ˈtrɒfɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to nutrition

   the trophic levels of a food chain

trophic

/ trŏf′ĭk /

1. Relating to the feeding habits of different organisms in a food chain or web.

Derived Forms

• ˈtrophically, adverb

Other Words From

• trophi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of trophic¹

First recorded in 1870–75, trophic is from the Greek word trophikós pertaining to food. See tropho-, -ic

Origin of trophic²

trophic

Word History and Origins

Origin of trophic¹

C19: from Greek trophikos , from trophē food, from trephein to feed

Example Sentences

Yellowstone is the archetypal example of trophic cascades and landscapes of fear.

From Nautilus

It is possible that the reflected impulse stimulates trophic nerves.

From Project Gutenberg

There is also a trophic differentiation, the fibres undertaking special functions of nutrition (the conduction of the sap).

From Project Gutenberg

Certain cells of the anterior part of the spinal cord, for example, are the trophic centres of the spinal motor nerves.

From Project Gutenberg

Other trophic centres, governing nerve tracts in the spinal cord itself, are in the various regions of the brain.

From Project Gutenberg

Referring again to Fig. 51, it is observable that trophic changes affected the system at the age of birth.

From Project Gutenberg