1. of or pertaining to the production of organic compounds from carbon dioxide as a carbon source, using either light or reactions of inorganic chemical compounds, as a source of energy.

1. capable of self-nourishment; requiring only minerals for growth; using carbonate or carbon dioxide as a source of carbon and simple inorganic nitrogen as a nitrogen source; -- said of all plants in which photosynthetic activity takes place, and certain bacteria. it is opposed to parasitism or saprophytism.
2. of or pertaining to an autotroph.

1. self-nourishing: said of plants which derive their nourishment directly from inorganic matter, that is, of all plants except parasites and saprophytes. see the quotation under hemiparasite and compare holophytic.

1. of or relating to organisms (as green plants) that can make complex organic nutritive compounds from simple inorganic sources by photosynthesis