autotrophic

/,ɔ:tə'trɔfik/

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Word: Autotrophic

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition: The word "autotrophic" describes certain living things, like green plants, that can create their own food. They do this by using simple substances from their environment, such as sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide. This process is called photosynthesis.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "autotrophic" to talk about organisms that do not need to eat other organisms for energy.
• It is often used in scientific contexts, especially in biology or ecology.

Examples:

1. Simple Example: "Green plants are autotrophic because they can make their own food using sunlight."
2. In a Sentence: "Autotrophic organisms play a crucial role in the ecosystem by producing oxygen and organic material."

Advanced Usage:

• In more complex discussions, you might encounter "autotrophic" in relation to different types of ecosystems, such as "chemoautotrophic" organisms that derive energy from chemical reactions rather than sunlight.

Word Variants:

• Autotroph (noun): An organism that can make its own food.
  • Example: "A tree is an autotroph because it uses sunlight to grow."
• Autotrophy (noun): The process of being autotrophic.
  • Example: "Autotrophy is essential for maintaining the balance in nature."

Different Meaning:

• While "autotrophic" primarily refers to the ability to produce food, it can also imply a self-sufficient nature in broader contexts, such as self-sustaining systems or practices.

Synonyms:

• Self-sustaining
• Self-feeding

Related Terms:

• Heterotrophic: Refers to organisms that cannot make their own food and must consume other organisms.
  • Example: "Animals are heterotrophic because they need to eat plants or other animals for energy."

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• While there are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "autotrophic," you might encounter phrases like "self-sufficient" or "stand on one's own" that convey a similar idea of being able to sustain oneself.

Summary:

In summary, "autotrophic" is an important term in biology that describes organisms capable of producing their own food from simple substances.

Academic

Adjective

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

Synonyms

• autophytic