autotrophy
|au-to-tro-phy|
🇺🇸
/ˈɑːtətrəfi/
🇬🇧
/ˈɔːtətrəfi/
self-nourishment
Etymology
'autotrophy' originates from New Latin/modern scientific formation, ultimately from Greek: 'autós' meaning 'self' and 'trophḗ' meaning 'nourishment'.
'autotrophy' was formed in modern scientific usage from the Greek roots via New Latin/modern coinage (compare German 'Autotrophie' and English 'autotroph' + '-y'), becoming established in biological literature in the late 19th to early 20th century.
Initially coined to denote the state or mode of 'self-nourishment' in organisms; this core meaning has remained stable and is still used in the same technical sense in modern biology.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the condition or nutritional mode in which an organism produces its own organic compounds from inorganic substances (for example, via photosynthesis or chemosynthesis); self-nourishment.
Autotrophy allows plants, algae, and certain bacteria to convert inorganic carbon into the organic compounds they need.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/29 13:44