precocial

[ pri-koh-shuhl ]

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

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Origin of precocial

1
First recorded in 1870–75; precoci(ous) + -al1

Words Nearby precocial

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How to use precocial in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for precocial

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

noun
  1. a precocial bird

Origin of precocial

1
C19: see precocious

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

Scientific definitions for precocial

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. Compare altricial.

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