carnivorous

[kahr-niv-er-uh s] /kɑrˈnɪv ər əs/

adjective

flesh-eating:

A dog is a carnivorous animal.

Origin

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

Related forms

carnivorism, noun

carnivorously, adverb

carnivorousness, noun

noncarnivorous, adjective

noncarnivorously, adverb

noncarnivorousness, noun

uncarnivorous, adjective

uncarnivorously, adverb

uncarnivorousness, noun

Can be confused

Synonyms

1. meat-eating, predatory, predacious.

Examples from the web for carnivorous

carnivorous tigerfish had braved the poisoned streams and were feeding on flesh that had fallen into the water.
carnivorous bottom feeders, eating mostly fish and invertebrates.
Sea hares feed on algae, while nudibranchs are all carnivorous.
The farming of carnivorous fish also involves the use of feed made from other fish species caught in the wild.
carnivorous plants chomp down on insects in unusual ways.
Around the world carnivorous plants are on the decline, the victims of habitat loss, illegal poaching and pollution.
carnivorous lunches with one of his brothers represent a brief but regular weekday reprieve for him.
Aquatic carnivorous bladderworts catch prey with suction traps.
After all, many carnivorous animals devour their prey alive.
The warm blooded carnivorous types come in many different shapes, sizes and colors.

British Dictionary definitions for carnivorous

/kɑːˈnɪvərəs/

adjective

(esp of animals) feeding on flesh

(of plants such as the pitcher plant and sundew) able to trap and digest insects and other small animals

of or relating to the Carnivora

(informal) aggressively ambitious or reactionary

Derived Forms

carnivorously, adverb
carnivorousness, noun

Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for carnivorous

adj.

1640s, from Latin carnivorus "flesh-eating, feeding on flesh," from caro (genitive carnis) "flesh" (see carnage) + vorare "to devour" (see voracity).