| a. | 1. | (Plant Physiol.) Capable of self-nourishment; requiring only minerals for growth; using carbonate or carbon dioxide as a source of carbon and simple inorganic nitrogen as a nitrogen source; - said of all plants in which photosynthetic activity takes place, and certain bacteria. It is opposed to parasitism or saprophytism. |
| 2. | of or pertaining to an autotroph. |
| Adj. | 1. | autotrophic - of or relating to organisms (as green plants) that can make complex organic nutritive compounds from simple inorganic sources by photosynthesis Synonyms: autophytic Antonyms: heterotrophic - requiring organic compounds of carbon and nitrogen for nourishment; "most animals are heterotrophic" |
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