Meaning & use
autotrophic
Last updated
Able to produce its own food from inorganic substances, such as through photosynthesis, rather than consuming other organisms.
See it in a sentence
Plants are autotrophic organisms that convert sunlight into energy.
Certain bacteria are autotrophic, using chemical reactions instead of sunlight to make food.
A note on using this word
A core biology term contrasted with 'heterotrophic,' which describes organisms like animals that must eat other organisms for energy.
Words with an opposite meaning
heterotrophic
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