1. In a manner characteristic of or relating to autotrophs; by means of producing organic compounds from inorganic substances using energy from sunlight or chemical reactions.
Usage: technical; biology

Examples

• Plants grow autotrophically by converting sunlight into chemical energy through photosynthesis.
• Cyanobacteria function autotrophically, fixing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
• Some bacteria survive autotrophically in deep-sea hydrothermal vents using chemosynthesis.
• Algae that develop autotrophically do not require organic nutrients from their environment.
• The organism operates autotrophically, synthesizing all necessary compounds from inorganic sources.