metatrophicadj.
/ˌmɛtəˈtrɒfɪk/, /ˌmɛtəˈtrəʊfɪk/, U.S. /ˌmɛdəˈtrɑfɪk/ Biology.† 1. Designating a change in form or proportion of parts of an organism during its lifetime, esp. as supposed to contribute to adaptation leading to Lamarckian evolution. Obsolete.
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1889 H. F. Osborn in Amer. Naturalist 23 562 In the life of the individual, adaptation is increased by local and general metatrophic changes..which take place most rapidly in the regions of least perfect adaptation, since here the reactions are greatest.
1897 Amer. Naturalist 31 1009 The metatrophic or unequal growth of the cusps, especially as affecting the external pair, protocone and metacone, in the upper molars.
2. Of an organism: dependent on organic substances for nutrition (largely superseded by heterotrophic). Now rare.
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the world > life > biology > balance of nature > organisms in relation to habitat > [adjective]
fieldya1382
waterya1382
agrestial1608
subterranean1638
lucifugous1654
nemoral1656
subcutaneous1664
subterraneous1832
subtidal1852
xylophilous1862
xerophilous1863
acid-loving1870
aerobic1878
aerobian1879
aerobious1879
aerobiotic1880
subaquatic1880
aerophilous1885
facultative1887
pelagic1887
aerophile1888
autotrophic1893
heterotrophic1893
plastic1893
thermophilic1894
thermophil1896
mesophilic1897
halolimnic1898
polybathic1898
tolerant1898
limnetic1899
thermophilous1899
metatrophic1900
mixotrophic1900
paratrophic1900
mesophilous1901
benthic1902
epibenthic1902
eurybathic1902
microaerophilic1903
sympatric1904
benthoal1905
cryophile1907
benthonic1909
microaerophile1909
lenitic1916
lotic1916
psychrotolerant1924
oligosaprobic1925
polysaprobic1925
aerophilic1929
saprobic1932
primary1934
lentic1935
chemoautotrophic1936
eurytopic1937
psammic1938
saprotrophic1942
prototrophic1946
chemolithoautotrophic1949
auxotrophic1950
chemolithotrophic1953
chemoorganotrophic1953
opportunist1956
psychrophile1956
psychrophilic1958
opportunistic1960
psychrotrophic1960
oligosaprobe1990
1900 A. C. Jones tr. A. Fischer Struct. & Functions Bacteria v. 48 The metatrophic bacteria..cannot live unless they have organic substances at their disposal.
1902 Encycl. Brit. XXV. 439/1 Some Angiosperms are persistently heterotrophic, either as saprophytes (metatrophic) or as parasites (paratrophic), and this manner of life involves some kind of symbiosis.
1930 S. Thomas Bacteriol. (ed. 2) v. 75 Metatrophic bacteria..include the bacteria causing fermentation, decay, and the decomposition of fatty substances.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1889