saprophyte Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an organism that feeds on dead organic matter especially a fungus or bacterium
    saprophytic organism.

WordNet


Sap"ro*phyte noun
Etymology
Gr. rotten + a plant.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) Any plant growing on dacayed animal or vegetable matter, as most fungi and some flowering plants with no green color, as the Indian pipe.

Webster 1913