AUTOTROPHIC

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does autotrophic mean? 

• AUTOTROPHIC (adjective)
  The adjective AUTOTROPHIC has 1 sense:

1. of or relating to organisms (as green plants) that can make complex organic nutritive compounds from simple inorganic sources by photosynthesis

  Familiarity information: AUTOTROPHIC used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• AUTOTROPHIC (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of or relating to organisms (as green plants) that can make complex organic nutritive compounds from simple inorganic sources by photosynthesis

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Synonyms:

autophytic; autotrophic

Domain category:

botany; phytology (the branch of biology that studies plants)

Antonym:

heterotrophic (requiring organic compounds of carbon and nitrogen for nourishment)

Pertainym:

autotroph (plant capable of synthesizing its own food from simple organic substances)

 Context examples 

Although arginine is a nonessential amino acid for normal human cells, certain cancer cells are autotrophic for arginine and need arginine in order to survive.

(Pegylated arginine deiminase, NCI Thesaurus)