adj.
Pronunciation: ˌ o ̇ k-s ə - ' tr ō -fik
Function: adjective
Etymology: Greek auxein to increase + -o- + English -trophic
Date: 1944
: requiring a specific growth substance beyond the minimum required for normal metabolism and reproduction by the parental or wild-type strain < auxotrophic mutants of bacteria>
– aux · ot · ro · phy \ o ̇ k- ' sä-tr ə -f ē \ noun