saprophyte Hear it!

saprophyte definition

sap·ro·phyte (sap′rə fīt′)

noun

any organism that lives on dead or decaying organic matter, as some fungi and bacteria

Etymology: sapro- + -phyte

Related Forms:

  • saprophytic sap′·ro·phyt′ic (-fit′ik) adjective

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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