[sap-ruh-fahyt] 
| any organism that lives on dead organic matter, as certain fungi and bacteria. |
| sap·ro·phyte (sāp'rə-fīt') n. An organism, especially a fungus or bacterium, that grows on and derives its nourishment from dead or decaying organic matter. sap'ro·phyt'ic (-fĭt'ĭk) adj., sap'ro·phyt'i·cal·ly adv. |
saprophyte sap·ro·phyte (sāp'rə-fīt')
n.
An organism, especially a fungus or bacterium, that grows on and derives its nourishment from dead or decaying organic matter.
| saprophyte (sāp'rə-fīt') Pronunciation Key
An organism, especially a fungus or bacterium, that lives on and gets its nourishment from dead organisms or decaying organic material. Saprophytes recycle organic material in the soil, breaking it down into in simpler compounds that can be taken up by other organisms. saprophytic adjective (sāp'rə-fĭt'ĭk) |
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