trophotropism

9.9

A movement or growth toward a source of food

noun
/trəˈfōtrəˌpizəm/

Specialized

: trofotropismo

The plant's roots display trophotropism as they grow in the direction of decomposing organic matter.

Examples

Certain protozoa exhibit trophotropism by moving towards nutrients in their environment.
Plants exhibit trophotropism when they grow towards nutrients.
Research into trophotropism has revealed complex behavioral patterns in simple organisms.
The study of trophotropism reveals how organisms adapt to their environment.
Certain protozoa exhibit trophotropism by moving towards nutrients in their environment.
The plant's roots display trophotropism as they grow in the direction of decomposing organic matter.
Research into trophotropism shows how different organisms adjust their growth towards food sources.

Synonyms

tropism

vstrophotropism

Specialized

1 9.8

A movement of a living thing's part toward or away from something around it

is specific to moving toward a food source

Surface Forms

trophotropism singular

trophotropisms plural

Morphology

trophotropism = tropism (semi-transparent) = tropho + tropism

The meaning is compositionally 'movement/response toward nourishment', but it uses the technical combining form 'tropho-' which is not a familiar standalone English word for average learners.

Etymology

Trophotropism joins two Greek parts: tropho- meaning 'food' (think of atrophy, when muscles 'waste away') and -tropism meaning 'turning toward'. So, trophotropism is a movement or growth by a living thing that 'turns toward' a source of food or nutrients.