herbivorous

[ hur-biv-er-uhs, ur- ]

adjective

1. feeding on plants.

herbivorous

/ hɜːˈbɪvərəs /

adjective

1. (of animals) feeding on grass and other plants
2. informal.
   liberal, idealistic, or nonmaterialistic

Derived Forms

• herˈbivorously, adverb
• herˈbivorousness, noun

Other Words From

• her·bi·vor·i·ty [hur-b, uh, -, vawr, -i-tee, -, vor, -], noun
• her·bivo·rous·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of herbivorous¹

1655–65; < New Latin herbivorus; herb, -i-, -vorous

Example Sentences

Known in Argentina as carpinchos, capybaras are gentle and herbivorous, but they are hard to miss.

From Salon

Little is known about them - compared what experts know about stegosaurus, triceratops and the mighty T-rex - but it is thought they walked on their front feet and their hind limbs, were herbivorous and from the late triassic period.

From BBC

A team of researchers led by biologist Florian Schiestl of the Department of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany at the University of Zurich has now discovered that the interaction of plants with pollinators and herbivorous insects influences their adaptation to soil types and thus the formation of ecotypes.

From Science Daily

However, the island is also home to an abundance of mostly herbivorous mammals big enough to crush a snake, including deer, pigs, sheep, cows, goats, and humans.

From Science Magazine

University of Sydney researchers have shown it is possible to shield plants from the hungry maws of herbivorous mammals by fooling them with the smell of a variety they typically avoid.

From Science Daily