phototrophic
|pho-to-troph-ic|
🇺🇸
/ˌfoʊtəˈtroʊfɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˌfəʊtəˈtrɒfɪk/
obtains energy from light
Etymology
'phototrophic' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'phōtós' and 'trophḗ', where 'phōtós' meant 'light' and 'trophḗ' meant 'nourishment'.
'phototrophic' changed from Neo-Latin/modern scientific coinage combining 'photo-' (from Greek) + 'troph-'/'-trophic' (from Greek 'trophḗ') and the adjectival suffix '-ic', and eventually became the modern English word 'phototrophic'.
Initially, it meant 'relating to nourishment by light'; over time this core meaning has been retained and is used in modern scientific contexts to describe organisms/processes that use light for energy.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
describing organisms or processes that obtain energy (or electrons) directly from light (i.e., exhibiting phototrophy).
Many bacteria are phototrophic, using sunlight to power their metabolism.
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Adjective 2
relating to or resulting from phototrophy (the condition or process of obtaining energy from light).
The study compared phototrophic and chemotrophic pathways in these organisms.
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Last updated: 2026/01/14 19:01