saprophyte

saprophyte

 [sap´ro-fīt]

any organism, such as a bacterium or protozoon, living upon dead or decaying organic matter. For fungi, the preferred term is saprobe. adj., adj saprophyt´ic.

Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

sap·ro·phyte

(sap'rō-fīt),

An organism that grows on dead organic matter, plant or animal. See: saprobe.

Synonym(s): necroparasite

[sapro- + G. phyton, plant]

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

saprophyte

(săp′rə-fīt′)

n.

An organism, especially a fungus or bacterium, that derives its nourishment from dead or decaying organic matter. Also called saprobe.

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sap′ro·phyt′ic (-fĭt′ĭk) adj.

sap′ro·phyt′i·cal·ly adv.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

sap·robe

(sap'rōb)

An organism that lives on dead organic material. usage note This term is preferable to saprophyte, because bacteria and fungi are no longer regarded as plants.

[sapro- + G. bios, life]

Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012

saprophyte

An organism that lives on and derives its nourishment from dead or decaying organic matter.

Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005

saprophyte

or

saprotroph

any plant or microorganism that obtains its nutrition from dead or decaying organic materials in the form of organic substances in solution. Such organisms are of great importance in breaking down dead organic material. see NITROGEN CYCLE.

Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005

sap·robe

(sap'rōb)

An organism that lives on dead organic material. usage note This term is preferable to saprophyte, because bacteria and fungi are no longer regarded as plants.

[sapro- + G. bios, life]

Medical Dictionary for the Dental Professions © Farlex 2012