[au.to.tro.phic] adj [prob. fr. G autotroph, fr. Gk autotrophos supplying one's own food, fr. aut- + trephein to nourish] (ca. 1900) 1: needing only carbon dioxide or carbonates as a source of carbon and a simple inorganic nitrogen compound for metabolic synthesis
2: not requiring a specified exogenous factor for normal metabolism -- au.to.tro.phi.cal.ly adv -- au.tot.ro.phy n