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phototroph

[ foh-tuh-trof, -trohf ]

noun

, Biology.
  1. any organism that uses light as its principal source of energy.

phototroph

/ ˈfəʊtəʊˌtrɒf; ˌfəʊtəʊˈtrɒfɪk /

noun

  1. an organism that obtains energy from sunlight for the synthesis of organic compounds

phototroph

/ fō′tə-trŏf′ /

  1. An organism that manufactures its own food from inorganic substances using light for energy. Green plants, certain algae, and photosynthetic bacteria are phototrophs.
  2. Also called photoautotroph

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Derived Forms

  • phototrophic, adjective

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Other Words From

  • photo·trophic adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of phototroph1

First recorded in 1940–45; photo- + -troph

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phototransistorphototrophic bacteria

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