autotroph

(ôˈtə-trŏfˌ, -trōfˌ)

noun
An organism capable of synthesizing its own food from inorganic substances, using light or chemical energy. Green plants, algae, and certain bacteria are autotrophs.

Related Forms:

  • auˌto·trophˈic (-trŏfˈĭk, -trōˈfĭk) adjective
  • auˌto·trophˈi·cal·ly adverb
  • au·totˈro·phy (ô-tŏtˈrə-fē) noun

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