Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- Pertaining to or of the nature of saprophytes; growing on decaying vegetable matter. See
Perisporiaceæ . - In zoology, engendered or growing in putrid infusions, as one of numberless infusorial animalcules; saprogenous: opposed to holophytic.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective Feeding or growing upon decaying animal or vegetable matter; pertaining to a saprophyte or the saprophytes.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective Relating to
saprophytes or their life style.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective obtaining food osmotically from dissolved organic material
- adjective (of some plants or fungi) feeding on dead or decaying organic matter
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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Bacteria may be conveniently grouped under two heads: those that live upon dead organic matter, known as the saprophytic forms, and those that are found in living plants or animals, the true parasites.
Insects and Diseases A Popular Account of the Way in Which Insects may Spread or Cause some of our Common Diseases Rennie Wilbur Doane
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It is 'saprophytic', which means feeding on decaying organic matter.
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It is 'saprophytic', which means feeding on decaying organic matter.
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It is 'saprophytic', which means feeding on decaying organic matter.
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"This is the legacy Benazir has left behind for Pakistan," her niece writes -- a "saprophytic culture" in which Zardari is the organism that lives off the corpses.
Fatima Bhutto's memoir "Songs of Blood and Sword," reviewed by Thomas Lippman Thomas W. Lippman 2010
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"This is the legacy Benazir has left behind for Pakistan," her niece writes -- a "saprophytic culture" in which Zardari is the organism that lives off the corpses.
Fatima Bhutto's memoir "Songs of Blood and Sword," reviewed by Thomas Lippman Post 2010
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You could say my writing exhibits saprophytic (unless you are a mycologist I suggest you look that word up) tendencies, in that my poems feed off of the already dead and rotting carcasses of the published endeavors of others.
Dear Poetry Editor, 2009
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Rice is predominant, but weeds, plankton, and saprophytic and photosynthetic bacteria compete with the rice plants for nutrients and diminish the environment.
Chapter 5 1995
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However, weeds, plankton, and saprophytic and photosynthetic bacteria compete with rice for nutrients.
Chapter 5 1995
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He said nothing; only took me by the elbow and led me from the wood, leaving the dead man behind, clothed in the saprophytic hues of war and sacrifice.
Dragonfly in Amber Gabaldon, Diana 1992
chained_bear commented on the word saprophytic
"He ... led me from the wood, leaving the dead man behind, clothed in the saprophytic hues of war and sacrifice."
—Diana Gabaldon, Dragonfly in Amber (NY: Delacorte Press, 1991), 867
See also corpse-candle.
January 3, 2010