che·mo·au·to·troph  (kē'mō-ô'tə-trōf', -trŏf', kěm'ō-)  n. An organism, such as a bacterium or protozoan, that obtains its nourishment through the oxidation of inorganic chemical compounds as opposed to photosynthesis. che'mo·au'to·tro'phic (-trō'fĭk, -trŏf'ĭk) adj., che'mo·au·tot'ro·phy (-ô-tŏt'rə-fē) n. |