trophosome

[ trof-uh-sohm, troh-fuh- ]

noun

, Zoology.

1. an organ in deep-sea tube worms that is colonized by bacteria supplying the host worm with food and energy.
2. a similar organ in other marine worms.

Word History and Origins

Origin of trophosome¹

First recorded in 1865–70; tropho- + -some ³

Example Sentences

Hydrothermal vent tubeworms get organic compounds from bacteria that live in their trophosome.

From Forbes

For instance, among the Hydroida, in the great majority of cases, the egg produces a body more or less resembling the common Hydra of our ponds, and known technically as the “trophosome,” which develops into the well-known Medusæ or jelly-fishes.

From Project Gutenberg