Autotroph
/ˈɔː.tə.trɒf/noun
An organism that produces its own organic nutrients from inorganic substances, usually using light or chemical energy.
Did you know?The term reflects an ancient Greek idea of self-sufficiency, but modern autotrophs include organisms that harvest energy from volcanic chemicals rather than sunlight.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
autos
“Self; one’s own”
Ancient Greek
Greek
trephein
“To nourish, feed, or cause to grow”
Ancient Greek
Greek
trophē
“Nourishment or food”
19th Century
German
autotroph
“Self-nourishing; producing organic matter independently”
Late 19th Century
English
autotroph
“An organism capable of making its own food”
Modern English
English
autotroph
“An organism that synthesizes nutrients from inorganic materials using light or chemical energy”
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