n. pl. au·toch·thons or au·toch·tho·nes (-thə-nēz′) 1. One that originated or was formed where it is found, especially a rock formation that has not been displaced. 2. One of the earliest known inhabitants of a place; an aborigine. 3. Ecology An indigenous plant or animal. [Greek autokhthōn : auto-, auto- + khthōn, earth; see dhghem- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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