— photosynthetic /foh'teuh sin thet"ik/ , adj. — photosynthetically , adv.
/foh'teuh sin"theuh sis/ , n. Biol., Biochem.
(esp. in plants) the synthesis of complex organic materials, esp. carbohydrates, from carbon dioxide, water, and inorganic salts, using sunlight as the source of energy and with the aid of chlorophyll and associated pigments.
[ 1895-1900; PHOTO- + SYNTHESIS ]