Definition

A type of organism that can make its own food using light energy and inorganic materials. Examples include green plants and certain bacteria that perform photosynthesis.

Example

Green plants are photoautotrophs because they use sunlight to create their own food.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of a photoautotroph?

Yeah, isn't that like plants that make their own food using sunlight?

Exactly! It's fascinating how they convert light into energy.

Totally, nature has some amazing processes like that.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Photoautotroph → It is formed from "photo-" (from Greek "phōs", meaning light), "auto-" (from Greek "autos", meaning self), and "troph" (from Greek "trophē", meaning nourishment or feeding). The word describes an organism that uses light to produce its own food, thus nourishing itself.

Memory Tip

Imagine an organism that feeds itself ('auto-') using 'light' ('photo-') for nourishment ('troph'). This helps you remember that a photoautotroph is a self-feeding organism that uses light.

Visually Confused Words