photoheterotrophy

noun

The generation of biological energy from light, together with organic compounds and / or carbon dioxide

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

nounphotoheterotrophy (uncountable)
  1. uncountablebiologyThe generation of biological energy from light, together with organic compounds and / or 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. Englishheterotrophy
  9. Englishphotoheterotrophy

From photo- + heterotrophy.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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