| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷+|träfik, -trō- adjective
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary aut- + -trophic; probably originally formed as German autotroph
1. : capable of self-nourishment ; specifically : capable of using carbon dioxide or carbonates as a sole source of carbon and a simple inorganic nitrogen compound for metabolic synthesis — used of green plants and certain chemoautotrophic bacteria and protozoans; opposed to heterotrophic ; see photoautotrophic
2. : not requiring a specified exogenous factor for normal metabolism — usually used in combination
strictly auxo autotrophic
• au·to·troph·i·cal·ly | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷fə̇k(ə)lē adverb