chemoautotrophic

adjective

obtaining its nutrition through the oxidation of non-organic compounds (or other chemical processes); as opposed to the process of photosynthesis.

Similar
chemolithoautotrophic
OriginEnglish autotrophic ← New Latin chēmīa ← Ancient Greek χυμείᾱ (khumeíā)influ. →
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Meanings

adjectivechemoautotrophic (comparative more chemoautotrophic, superlative most chemoautotrophic)

comparative more chemoautotrophic · superlative most chemoautotrophic · alternative chemautotrophic · alternative chemo-autotrophic

  1. biologyobtaining its nutrition through the oxidation of non-organic compounds (or other chemical processes); as opposed to the process of photosynthesis.

    Synonyms: chemolithoautotrophic

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveobtaining its nutrition through the oxidation of non-organic compounds (or other chemical processes); as opposed to the process of photosynthesis.

Similar
chemolithoautotrophic

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*ǵʰew-
  2. Ancient Greekχῠ́μᾰ (khŭ́mă)
  3. Ancient Greekχυμείᾱ (khumeíā)
  4. Arabicالْكِيمِيَاء (al-kīmiyāʔ)
  5. Medieval Latinalchēmia
  6. Ancient Greekχυμείᾱ (khumeíā)influ.
  7. New Latinchēmīa
  8. Englishchemo-
  9. Englishautotrophic
  10. Englishchemoautotrophic

From chemo- + autotrophic.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

chemoautotrophic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chemoautotrophic

MLA

“chemoautotrophic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chemoautotrophic. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “chemoautotrophic,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chemoautotrophic.

Source: chemoautotrophic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.