photoheterotrophic

adjective

Using light for energy, but requiring a source of carbon other than carbon dioxide.

OriginEnglish heterotrophic ← Ancient Greek φωτο- (phōto-) ← Proto-Hellenic *pʰáwos →
Scrabble 33
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Meanings

adjective
  1. biologyUsing light for energy, but requiring a source of carbon other than carbon dioxide.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*bʰeh₂-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*bʰéh₂os
  3. Proto-Hellenic*pʰáwos
  4. Ancient Greekφᾰ́ος (phắos)
  5. Ancient Greekφῶς (phôs)
  6. Ancient Greekφωτο- (phōto-)
  7. Englishphoto-
  8. Englishheterotrophic
  9. Englishphotoheterotrophic

From photo- + heterotrophic.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

photoheterotrophic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photoheterotrophic

MLA

“photoheterotrophic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photoheterotrophic. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “photoheterotrophic,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photoheterotrophic.

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