autotroph
|au-to-troph|
C1
🇺🇸
/ˈɔːtəˌtroʊf/
🇬🇧
/ˈɔːtəˌtrəʊf/
self-feeder
Etymology
Etymology Information
'autotroph' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'autotrophos,' where 'auto-' meant 'self' and 'trophos' meant 'feeder.'
Historical Evolution
'autotrophos' transformed into the modern English word 'autotroph' through scientific Latin.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'self-feeder,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an organism that is able to form nutritional organic substances from simple inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide.
Plants are autotrophs because they can produce their own food through photosynthesis.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45