nonphotosynthetic
- adjective
- /nɒnˌfoʊtəˈsɪnθɪk/
- Specialized
- The study focused on the role of nonphotosynthetic bacteria in soil ecosystems.
Examples
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The nonphotosynthetic bacteria thrive in dark environments.
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Some fungi are nonphotosynthetic and must absorb nutrients from organic material.
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Unlike green plants, these algae are completely nonphotosynthetic and obtain energy by consuming other organisms.
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Fungi are nonphotosynthetic organisms that obtain nutrients from other sources.
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Mushrooms are nonphotosynthetic organisms that obtain nutrients by breaking down organic matter.
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Unlike green plants, coral reefs are made up of nonphotosynthetic animals that rely on other sources for energy.
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Animals are typically nonphotosynthetic, as they do not have the ability to perform photosynthesis.
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
nonphotosynthetic = photosynthetic (semi-transparent) = non + photosynthesis + ic
The negating prefix 'non-' straightforwardly creates the opposite of 'photosynthetic'.
Etymology
The word nonphotosynthetic breaks into non- 'not', photo- 'light', as in photograph, and -synthetic 'making'. So it means 'not making food from light', and that's why it describes organisms that cannot do photosynthesis.