Etymology
Advertisement

heterotroph (n.)

1900, from German (1892), from hetero- "other" + Greek trophos "feeder" (see -trophy). Related: Heterotrophic (1884); heterotrophism (1885); heterotrophy.

Entries linking to heterotroph

hetero- 
before vowels heter-, word-forming element meaning "other, different," from Greek heteros "the other (of two), another, different; second; other than usual." It is a compound; the first element means "one, at one, together," from PIE root *sem- (1) "one; as one, together with;" the second is cognate with the second element in Latin al-ter, Gothic an-þar, Old English o-ðer "other."

Compounds in classical Greek show the range of the word there: Heterokretes "true Cretan," (that is, of the old stock); heteroglossos "of foreign language;" heterozelos "zealous for one side;" heterotropos "of a different sort or fashion," literally "turning the other way;" heterophron "raving," literally "of other mind."
-trophy 
word-forming element meaning "food, nourishment," from Greek -trophia, from trophe "food, nourishment," related to trephein "make thrive, nourish, rear; to make solid, congeal, thicken."
heterotrophy (n.)
1888, from German (1885); see hetero- "other" + -trophy "nourishment." Used especially of plants that depend for food on a fungus.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Definitions of heterotroph

heterotroph (n.)
an organism that depends on complex organic substances for nutrition;
From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near heterotroph

heteronym

heterophemy

heterosexism

heterosexual

heterosexuality

heterotroph

heterotrophy

heterozygous

hetman

heuristic

heuristics

© 2001-2022 Douglas Harper