met-atrophic

adjective

requiring dead organic matter for food.

Origin:
1895–1900; meta- + trophic

Related forms

met·a·troph

[met-uh-trof, -trawf] , noun

me·tat·ro·phy

[muh-ta-truh-fee] , noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source

Link To met-atrophic

American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

metatrophic met·a·troph·ic (mět'ə-trŏf'ĭk, -trō'fĭk)
adj.

Of or relating to the ability to undertake anabolism.
Of or relating to the ability to obtain nourishment from varied sources, as from nitrogenous and carbonaceous organic matter.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source

00:10

Met-atrophic is always a great word to know.

So is slumgullion. Does it mean:

a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.

a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.

LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...

Matching Quote

"I never saw that great woman, Mary Wollstonecraft, but I have read her eloquent and unanswerable arguments in behalf of the liberty of womankind. I have met and known most of the progressive women who came after her—Lucretia Mott, the Grimke sisters, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucy Stone—a long galaxy of great women.... Those older women have gone on, and most of those who worked with me in the early years have gone. I am here for a little time only and then my place will be filled as theirs was filled. The fight must not cease; you must see that it does not stop."

-Susan B. Anthony

Use Dictionary.com faster without ads >>

Partners:Word Bloglines Citysearch The Daily Beast Ask Answers Ask Kids Life123 Sendori Home Advisor

About PRIVACY POLICY Terms API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Suggest a Word Help