phototroph

[ foh-tuh-trof, -trohf ]
/ ˈfoʊ təˌtrɒf, -ˌtroʊf /

noun Biology.

any organism that uses light as its principal source of energy.

Origin of phototroph

First recorded in 1940–45; photo- + -troph

OTHER WORDS FROM phototroph

pho·to·troph·ic, adjective

Words nearby phototroph

phototonus, phototopography, phototoxic, phototoxin, phototransistor, phototroph, phototrophic bacteria, phototropic, phototropism, phototropy, phototube

British Dictionary definitions for phototroph

phototroph
/ (ˈfəʊtəʊˌtrɒf) /

noun

an organism that obtains energy from sunlight for the synthesis of organic compounds

Derived forms of phototroph

phototrophic (ˌfəʊtəʊˈtrɒfɪk), adjective

Scientific definitions for phototroph

phototroph
[ fō′tə-trŏf′ ]

An organism that manufactures its own food from inorganic substances using light for energy. Green plants, certain algae, and photosynthetic bacteria are phototrophs. Also called photoautotroph