sapro-, sapr-, sap- +
(Greek: rotten, putrid, putrefaction, decay; poisoning from bacterial action )
holosaprophyte
A plant that obtains its nutriment entirely from dead organic matter.
mesosaprobe
A biological classification of water quality according to the following categories: oligosaprobic, clear, with no or only slight pollution and high dissolved oxygen; mesosaprobic, moderately polluted; polysaprobic, strongly polluted; and antisaprobic, so polluted that no living organism is capable of living in the water.
mesosaprobic
Designating, relating to, or characteristic of running water which is partially polluted.
oligosaprobic, oligosaprobe
1. A reference to polluted habitats having a high oxygen concentration, low levels of dissolved organic matter, and a low level of organic decomposition.
2. That part of a stream that is slightly polluted with organic wastes and contains the mineralized products of self-purification from organic pollution, but with none of the organic pollution remaining.
polysaprobic
That area of a grossly polluted stream that contains the complex organic wastes that are decomposing primarily by anaerobic processes.
sapremia, sapraemia
1. Blood poisoning caused by the toxins produced by bacterial putrefaction, as in gangrene which may result from eating putrefied matter.
2. Blood poisoning resulting from the absorption of the products of putrefaction.
3. The presence of the products of putrefaction in the bloodstream; septicemia.
sapremic
A reference to sapremia; affected with or characterized by sapremia.
sapric
A reference to soil that is characterized by the presence of highly decomposed organic material.
saprine
A ptomaine of doubtful identity isolated from putrefying flesh.
saprobe
1. An organism that lives in and derives its nourishment from organic matter in stagnant or foul water.
2. An organism that derives its nourishment from nonliving or decaying organic matter.
saprobes
Organisms such as fungi that live as parasites because they do not possess photosynthetic pigments.
saprobial
Serving as a measure of saprobity.
saprobic
1. Relating to organisms that are able to live in highly polluted water.
2. Of or relating to organisms that live on dead or decaying matter.
3. Living in or being in an environment rich in organic matter but lacking oxygen.
4. An organism that derives its nourishment from nonliving or decaying organic matter.
5. Pertaining to water rich in dacaying organic matter.
saprobic system
A system by which a body of polluted water is divided into zones characterized by the presence of certain organisms that are treated as indicators of the degree of pollution.
saprobiologist
A biologist who studies saprobic environments or a reference to organisms that obtain their food directly from decaying organic material.
Don't confuse this sap-,sapro- with another sap- [sapo-] that means "soap" or another sap-, sapi- which means, "wise, wisdom".
Word families with similar applications about: "decay, rotten; wasting away; putrid, pus" word units:
phthisio- (decay, waste away);
puro- (pus);
pus (viscous fluid via an infection);
pustu- (blister, pimple);
putre- (rotten, decayed);
pyo- (pus; purulent);
sepsi- (decay, rot, putrefactive);
suppurant- (festering, forming or discharging pus);
tabe- (wasting away, decaying).
Subscribe to this FREE Focusing on Words Newsletter