chemoautotrophic

adjective

che·​mo·​au·​to·​tro·​phic ˌkē-mō-ˌȯ-tə-ˈtrō-fik How to pronounce chemoautotrophic (audio)
 also  ˌke-
: being autotrophic and oxidizing an inorganic compound as a source of energy
chemoautotrophic bacteria
chemoautotrophy noun

Word History

Etymology

chemo- + autotrophic

Note: The word is presumably based on German Chemoautotrophie, whence chemoautotrophy, attested later than chemoautotrophic. The German noun was apparently introduced by the biochemist Hans Pringsheim (1876-1940) in "Neues über Purpurbakterien," Naturwissenschaften, Band 20 (1932), p. 479.

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chemoautotrophic was in 1936

Dictionary Entries Near chemoautotrophic

Cite this Entry

“Chemoautotrophic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chemoautotrophic. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

chemoautotrophic

adjective
che·​mo·​au·​to·​tro·​phic -ˌȯt-ə-ˈtrō-fik How to pronounce chemoautotrophic (audio)
: being autotrophic and oxidizing some inorganic compound as a source of energy
chemoautotrophic bacteria
chemoautotrophy noun
plural chemoautotrophies
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