carnivore

[ kahr-nuh-vawr ]

noun

1. any mammal of the order Carnivora that eats meat, fish, or other flesh, especially as its primary source of food: a category of mammals that includes dogs, cats, bears, seals, and weasels. Compare carnivoran ( def 1 ).
2. any animal that eats meat, fish, etc., especially as its primary source of food; meat-eater:

   alligators, snakes, and other reptilian carnivores.

3. any plant that traps and feeds on insects and/or arachnids, such as a Venus flytrap.

carnivore

/ ˈkɑːnɪˌvɔː /

noun

1. any placental mammal of the order Carnivora, typically having large pointed canine teeth and sharp molars and premolars, specialized for eating flesh. The order includes cats, dogs, bears, raccoons, hyenas, civets, and weasels
2. any other animal or any plant that feeds on animals
3. informal.
   an aggressively ambitious person

carnivore

/ kär′nə-vôr′ /

1. 1. An animal that feeds chiefly on the flesh of other animals. Carnivores include predators such as lions and alligators, and scavengers such as hyenas and vultures. In a food chain, carnivores are either secondary or tertiary consumers.
   2. Any of various generally meat-eating mammals of the order Carnivora. Carnivores have large, sharp canine teeth and large brains, and the musculoskeletal structure of their forelimbs permits great flexibility for springing at prey. Many carnivores remain in and defend a single territory. Dogs, cats, bears, weasels, raccoons, hyenas, and (according to some classifications) seals and walruses are all carnivores.
2. A plant that eats insects, such as a Venus flytrap.

carnivore

1. A living thing that eats meat. Among mammals , there is an order of carnivores, including primarily meat-eating animals such as tigers and dogs. Some plants, such as the Venus's-flytrap, are carnivores.

Other Words From

• car·niv·o·ral [kahr-, niv, -er-, uh, l], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of carnivore¹

First recorded in 1850–55; from French, from Latin carnivorus carnivorous

Word History and Origins

Origin of carnivore¹

C19: probably back formation from carnivorous

Example Sentences

Finally, the scientists compared the mother's diet to those of other omnivores and carnivores from the same time period, including American lions, bears and wolves.

From Science Daily

According to Cristi Remus Papp, head of the large carnivore department of the Worldwide Fund for Nature, the new law will do nothing to improve the situation, and could make it worse.

From BBC

Liam Fisher recalled that he and his dad, who accompanied the trio, first spotted the bone of the young carnivore.

From Seattle Times

Among the fossilised finds, is "Barnum", the largest coprolite found that belongs to a carnivore, which measures at 67.5cm.

From BBC

Big carnivores such as these cats helped shape the broader animal community, tamping down prey-animal populations and influencing regional biodiversity.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• meat-eater