trophic

trophic

See also: -trophic

English

Alternative forms

• trophical

Etymology

From Ancient Greek τροφικός (trophikós, “pertaining to food or nourishment”), from τροφή (trophḗ, “food”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈtɹɒfɪk/, /ˈtɹəʊfɪk/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈtɹɑfɪk/, /ˈtɹoʊfɪk/
• Rhymes: -ɒfɪk
• Hyphenation: troph‧ic

Adjective

trophic (not comparable)

1. Of or pertaining to nutrition.
2. (ecology) Describing the relationships between the feeding habits of organisms in a food chain.
3. (physiology) Of or pertaining to growth.

Usage notes

In physiological sense, not to be confused with similar-sounding tropic – the words and concepts are unrelated.[1]

Derived terms

• trophical
• trophically
• trophic cascade theory
• trophic ecology
• trophic egg
• trophicity
• trophic level
• trophic ulcer

 

Related terms

• atrophic
• atrophy
• -trophic

Translations

trophic

German: trophisch

See also

• tropic
• tropical

References

1. “Trophic vs. Tropic”, Werner Steinberg, JAMA, May 3, 1952, 149(1), p. 82, doi:10.1001/jama.1952.02930180084027.