A guide to terminology
Root Meaning Example of use
troph-
-phile
-obe
Hetero-
Auto-
Photo-
Chemo-
sapro-
halo-
thermo-
psychro-
aero- Food, nourishment
To love
To live
Other
Self
Light
Chemical
Rotten
Salt
Heat
Cold
Air (O2) Trophozoite—the feeding stage of protozoa
Extremophile—an organism that has adapted to “love” extreme environments
Microbe—to “live small”
Heterotroph—an organism that requires nutrients from other organisms
Autotroph—an organism that “feed by itself”
Phototroph—an organism that uses light as an energy source
Chemotroph—an organism that uses chemicals rather than light for energy
Saprobe—an organism that lives on dead organic matter
Halophile—an organism that can grow in high-salt environments
Thermophile—an organism that grows at high temperatures
Psychrophile—an organism that grows at cold temperatures
Aerobe—an organism that uses oxygen in metabolism