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saprophytic

 - 5 dictionary results

sap⋅ro⋅phyte

  [sap-ruh-fahyt]
Use saprophytic in a Sentence
–noun
any organism that lives on dead organic matter, as certain fungi and bacteria.
Also called saprobe.

Origin:
1870–75; sapro- + -phyte

Related forms:
sap⋅ro⋅phyt⋅ic  [sap-ruh-fit-ik] , adjective
sap⋅ro⋅phyt⋅i⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To saprophytic
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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: sap·ro·phyte
Pronunciation: 'sap-r&-"fIt
Function: noun
: a saprophytic organism; especially : a plant livingon dead or decaying organic matter

Main Entry: sap·ro·phyt·ic
Pronunciation: "sap-r&-'fit-ik
Function: adjective
: obtaining food by absorbing dissolved organicmaterial; especially : obtaining nourishment osmotically from the products of organic breakdown and decay <saprophytic opportunists that attack only already diseasedtissue> —sap·ro·phyt·i·cal·ly /-i-k(&-)-lE/ adverb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

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.

sap'ro·phyt'ic (-fĭt'ĭk) adj.

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