Final answer:
An autotroph is an organism that can produce its own food by using sunlight and inorganic compounds to synthesize organic molecules. Examples include plants, bacteria, and algae.
Step-by-step explanation:
An autotroph is an organism that can produce its own food. The word autotroph comes from the Greek roots auto meaning 'self' and troph meaning 'feeder'. This term is appropriate for autotrophs because they are able to feed themselves by using sunlight and inorganic compounds to synthesize organic molecules, such as carbohydrates, through the process of photosynthesis. Examples of autotrophs include plants, certain bacteria, and algae.
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