carnivorous

[ kahr-niv-er-uhs ]

adjective

1. flesh-eating:

   A dog is a carnivorous animal.

   Synonyms: predacious, predatory

2. of the carnivores.

carnivorous

/ kɑːˈnɪvərəs /

adjective

1. (esp of animals) feeding on flesh
2. (of plants such as the pitcher plant and sundew) able to trap and digest insects and other small animals
3. of or relating to the Carnivora
4. informal.
   aggressively ambitious or reactionary

Derived Forms

• carˈnivorousness, noun
• carˈnivorously, adverb

Other Words From

• car·nivo·rism noun
• car·nivo·rous·ly adverb
• car·nivo·rous·ness noun
• noncar·nivo·rous adjective
• noncar·nivo·rous·ly adverb
• noncar·nivo·rous·ness noun
• uncar·nivo·rous adjective
• uncar·nivo·rous·ly adverb
• uncar·nivo·rous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of carnivorous¹

1640–50; < Latin carnivorus, equivalent to carni- (combining form of carō flesh) + -vorus -vorous

Word History and Origins

Origin of carnivorous¹

C17: from Latin carnivorus, from carō flesh + vorāre to consume