carnivorous

adjective car·niv·o·rous \kär-ˈni-v(ə-)rəs\

Definition of CARNIVOROUS

: subsisting or feeding on animal tissues

of a plant : subsisting on nutrients obtained from the breakdown of animal protoplasm (as of insects)

: of or relating to the carnivores

: rapacious

— car·niv·o·rous·ly adverb

— car·niv·o·rous·ness noun

— car·niv·ory \kär-ˈni-və-rē\ noun

See carnivorous defined for kids

Origin of CARNIVOROUS

Latin carnivorus, from carn-, caro + -vorus -vorous

First Known Use: 1592

Other Ecology Terms

Malthusian, anthropogenic, biomass, carbon footprint, crepuscular, niche, sere, symbiosis, taiga, tundra

Rhymes with CARNIVOROUS

granivorous, herbivorous, omnivorous

CARNIVOROUSLY Defined for Kids

carnivorous

adjective car·niv·o·rous \kär-ˈni-və-rəs\

Definition of CARNIVOROUS for Kids

: feeding on animal flesh or tissue <Wolves are carnivorous animals.>

Word Root of CARNIVOROUS

The Latin word vorāre, meaning “to eat greedily,” gives us the root vor. Words from the Latin vorāre have something to do with eating. An herbivorous animal eats only plants. A carnivorous animal eats only other animals. To devour is to eat up greedily. Anyone voracious likes to eat a lot.

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