omnivorous

American  

[om-niv-er-uhs] / ɒmˈnɪv ər əs /

adjective

1. eating both animal and plant foods.

2. eating all kinds of foods indiscriminately.

3. taking in everything, as with the mind.

   an omnivorous reader.

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omnivorous British  

/ ɒmˈnɪvərəs /

adjective

1. eating food of both animal and vegetable origin, or any type of food indiscriminately

2. taking in or assimilating everything, esp with the mind

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Other Word Forms

• omnivorism
  noun
• omnivorously
  adverb
• omnivorousness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of omnivorous

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin omnivorus “all-devouring”; equivalent to omni- + -vorous

Explanation

An omnivorous animal eats meat and plants — everything on the menu. The word omnivorous wears its meaning on its sleeve: omni means "all," and vorare is "to devour." It all comes together in the Latin word omnivorus — "all-devouring." Rarr! Polar bears are omnivorous, while pandas are herbivorous (eat only plants). People love to say they're carnivorous (eat only meat) when they're probably really omnivorous (unless they really do kick the French fries off the plate every time). Since omnivorous means "devouring everything," you can use it to describe someone with a very curious mind, who wants to "devour" everything with their brain, not their teeth.

Example Sentences

Stylistically Omnivorous and Erasing Boundaries The League of Composers/International Society for Contemporary Music has long presented chamber concerts devoted to recent scores, but last year the organization expanded its purview by assembling a chamber orchestra.

From New York Times • Jun. 9, 2010

Omnivorous scholar, fanatical Tolstoyan rigid vegetarian, amateur farmer and heterodox Slavic philologist, Bialystok-born Leo Wiener was an austere and aloof yet somehow lovable paterfamilias.

From Time Magazine Archive

Omnivorous small boys are not always particular about boiling, not to say washing, the roots before eating them.

From Wild Flowers An Aid to Knowledge of Our Wild Flowers and Their Insect Visitors by Blanchan, Neltje

Omnivorous curiosity was part of a Ranger's job description; Medart indulged his.

From A Matter of Honor A Terran Empire novel by Wilson, Ann

Omnivorous, but usually includes lots of science and science fiction.

From The Jargon File, Version 4.2.2, 20 Aug 2000 by Steele, Guy L.