| autotroph | <biology> An organism that makes its own food and does not require previously formed organic materials from the environment. Organisms that synthesise all their organic molecules from inorganic materials (carbon dioxide, salts etc.). Plants are classified as autotrophs because they use photosynthesis to make their own energy. May be photo autotrophs or chemo autotrophs, depending upon the source of the energy. Synonym: lithotrophic organism. Compare: heterotroph. (02 Jan 1998) |
|---|---|
| autotrophic | <biology> Independent of other organisms in respect of organic nutrition, able to fix carbon dioxide, by photosynthesis, to form carbohydrates. (02 Jan 1998) |
| autotrophy | The state of being self-sustaining and being able to produce food from inorganic compounds. Carbon autotrophy, ability to assimilate CO2 from the air. Nitrogen autotrophy, ability to assimilate nitrate or to do nitrogen fixation. Sulfur autotrophy, ability to assimilate sulfate. (05 Mar 2000) |