WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
met•a•troph•ic
(met′ə trof′ik, -trō′fik),USA pronunciation adj.
met•a•troph
(met′ə trof′, -trôf′),USA pronunciation n.
me•tat•ro•phy
(mə ta′trə fē),USA pronunciation n.
- requiring dead organic matter for food.
- 1895–1900; meta- + trophic