saprophyte

[ sap-ruh-fahyt ]
/ ˈsæp rəˌfaɪt /

noun

any organism that lives on dead organic matter, as certain fungi and bacteria.
Also called saprobe.

Origin of saprophyte

First recorded in 1870–75; sapro- + -phyte

OTHER WORDS FROM saprophyte

sap·ro·phyt·ic [sap-ruh-fit-ik] /ˌsæp rəˈfɪt ɪk/, adjective sap·ro·phyt·i·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby saprophyte

saprogen, saprogenic, saprolite, sapropel, saprophagous, saprophyte, saprotroph, saprozoic, saprozoonosis, saps, sapsago

British Dictionary definitions for saprophyte

saprophyte
/ (ˈsæprəʊˌfaɪt) /

noun

any plant that lives and feeds on dead organic matter using mycorrhizal fungi associated with its roots; a saprotrophic plant

Derived forms of saprophyte

saprophytic (ˌsæprəʊˈfɪtɪk), adjective saprophytically, adverb

Medical definitions for saprophyte

saprophyte
[ săp′rə-fīt′ ]

n.

An organism, especially a fungus or bacterium, that grows on and derives its nourishment from dead or decaying organic matter.

Other words from saprophyte

sap′ro•phyt′ic (-fĭt′ĭk) adj.

Scientific definitions for saprophyte

saprophyte
[ săp′rə-fīt′ ]

An organism, especially a fungus or bacterium, that lives on and gets its nourishment from dead organisms or decaying organic material. Saprophytes recycle organic material in the soil, breaking it down into in simpler compounds that can be taken up by other organisms.

Other words from saprophyte

saprophytic adjective (săp′rə-fĭt′ĭk)