autotrophic Definition
able to produce its own food using energy from sunlight or inorganic substances.
Using autotrophic: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "autotrophic" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
Plants are autotrophic organisms that use photosynthesis to produce their own food.
Example
Some bacteria are autotrophic and can survive in extreme environments.
Example
Autotrophic organisms are the base of the food chain in many ecosystems.
autotrophic Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for autotrophic
- photosynthetic
- chemosynthetic
- self-nourishing
Antonyms for autotrophic
Phrases with autotrophic
the process by which an organism produces its own food using energy from sunlight or inorganic substances
Example
Plants use autotrophic nutrition to produce their own food through photosynthesis.
bacteria that are able to produce their own food using energy from inorganic substances
Example
Some autotrophic bacteria are found in hot springs and other extreme environments.
the ability of an organism to grow and reproduce using only inorganic substances
Example
Algae can exhibit autotrophic growth in nutrient-rich environments.
Origins of autotrophic
from Greek 'autos' meaning 'self' and 'trophein' meaning 'to feed'
Summary: autotrophic in Brief
'Autotrophic' [aw-tuh-trof-ik] describes an organism's ability to produce its own food using energy from sunlight or inorganic substances. This process is called autotrophic nutrition and is used by plants, some bacteria, and other organisms. 'Autotrophic' is the opposite of 'heterotrophic,' which describes organisms that rely on other organisms for food. The term 'autotrophic' is often used in scientific contexts.