xylophagous

[ zahy-lof-uh-guhs ]

adjective

1. feeding on wood, as certain insects or insect larvae.
2. perforating or destroying timber, as certain mollusks, crustaceans, and fungi.

xylophagous

/ zaɪˈlɒfəɡəs /

adjective

1. (of certain insects, crustaceans, etc) feeding on or living within wood

Word History and Origins

Origin of xylophagous¹

From the Greek word xylophágos, dating back to 1835–45. See xylo-, -phagous

Example Sentences

It seemed as if Sandra had wound up exactly as she had a year ago�until the judges found that her xylophagous was acceptable.

From Time Magazine Archive

Xylophagous truly he could not be— No sickly vegetarian he!

From Project Gutenberg

Xylophagous: feeding in or upon woody tissue.

From Project Gutenberg

Adj. eatable, edible, esculent†, comestible, alimentary; cereal, cibarious†; dietetic; culinary; nutritive, nutritious; gastric; succulent; potable, potulent†; bibulous. omnivorous, carnivorous, herbivorous, granivorous, graminivorous, phytivorous; ichthyivorous; omophagic, omophagous; pantophagous, phytophagous, xylophagous.

From Project Gutenberg