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precocial

[ pri-koh-shuhl ]

adjective

, Biology.
  1. (of an animal species) active and able to move freely from birth or hatching and requiring little parental care ( altricial ).


precocial

/ prɪˈkəʊʃəl /

adjective

  1. (of the young of some species of birds after hatching) covered with down, having open eyes, and capable of leaving the nest within a few days of hatching
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


noun

  1. a precocial bird
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

precocial

/ prĭ-kōshəl /

  1. Born or hatched in a condition requiring relatively little parental care, as by having hair or feathers, open eyes, and the ability to move about. Water birds, reptiles, and herd animals usually have precocial young.
  2. Compare altricial


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Word History and Origins

Origin of precocial1

First recorded in 1870–75; precoci(ous) + -al 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of precocial1

C19: see precocious
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Compare Meanings

How does precocial compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

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Example Sentences

Young avocets are very precocial and leave the nest soon after hatching.

They were exceedingly active, a good example of precocial young.

Note the helpless altricial young of the robin; the independent precocial young of the quail.

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precludedprecocious