photoautotroph
noun
pho·to·au·to·troph
ˌfō-tō-ˈȯ-tə-ˌtrȯf
plural photoautotrophs
: a photosynthetic organism (such as a green plant or a cyanobacterium) that utilizes energy from light to synthesize organic molecules
Green plants that convert carbon dioxide into carbohydrates in the presence of sunlight are called photoautotrophs, and they are the primary producers in most marine and terrestrial ecosystems.—James J. Childress et al.
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“Photoautotroph.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/photoautotroph. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.
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