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au·toch·tho·nous  (ô-tŏkthə-nəs) also au·toch·tho·nal (-thə-nəl) or au·toch·thon·ic (ô′tŏk-thŏnĭk)
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Tweet adj. 1. Originating or formed in the place where found; indigenous: autochthonous rocks; an autochthonous people; autochthonous folk tales. See Synonyms at native. 2. Ecology Native to or produced within a system: an autochthonous species; algae that provide an autochthonous source of nutrients in a lake. au·tochthon·ism, au·tochtho·ny n. au·tochtho·nous·ly adv. |
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