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heterotrophic
[ het-er-uh-trof-ik, -troh-fik ]
adjective
, Biology.
- capable of utilizing only organic materials as a source of food.
heterotrophic
/ ˌhɛtərəʊˈtrɒfɪk /
adjective
- See autotrophic(of organisms, such as animals) obtaining carbon for growth and energy from complex organic compounds Compare autotrophic
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Derived Forms
- ˈheteroˌtroph, noun
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Word History and Origins
Origin of heterotrophic1
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Word History and Origins
Origin of heterotrophic1
C20: from hetero- + Greek trophikos concerning food, from trophē nourishment
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Example Sentences
Should the compound be inorganic, the term autotrophic is applied to the organism and heterotrophic if the compound is organic.
From Project Gutenberg
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