[het-er-uh-trof-ik, -troh-fik] 
| capable of utilizing only organic materials as a source of food. |
| het·er·o·troph (hět'ər-ə-trŏf', -trōf') n. An organism that cannot synthesize its own food and is dependent on complex organic substances for nutrition. [hetero- + Greek trophos, feeder; see -trophy.] het'er·o·troph'ic (hět'ər-ə-trŏf'ĭk, -trōf'-) adj., het'er·o·troph'i·cal·ly adv., het'er·ot'ro·phy (-ə-rŏt'rə-fē) n. |
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