# heterotroph

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈhɛt(ə)ɹə(ʊ)tɹəʊf/

## Definitions
1. An organism which requires an external supply of energy and nutrients under the form of food containing organic carbon as it cannot synthesize its own.

## Etymology
From hetero- (“other”) + -troph (“nutrition”).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/heterotroph