Main Entry: het·ero·tro·phic

Pronunciation: \ˌhe-tə-rə-ˈtrō-fik\

Function: adjective

Date: 1893

: requiring complex organic compounds of nitrogen and carbon (as that obtained from plant or animal matter) for metabolic synthesis — compare autotrophic

— het·ero·tro·phi·cal·ly \-fi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

— het·ero·tro·phy \ˌhe-tə-ˈrä-trə-fē, ˈhe-tə-rə-ˌtrō-\ noun