carnivorous

American  

[kahr-niv-er-uhs] / kɑrˈnɪv ər əs /

adjective

1. flesh-eating.

   A dog is a carnivorous animal.

   Synonyms:

   predacious, predatory

2. of the carnivores.

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carnivorous British  

/ kɑːˈnɪvərəs /

adjective

1. (esp of animals) feeding on flesh

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

3. of or relating to the Carnivora

4. informal aggressively ambitious or reactionary

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Other Word Forms

• carnivorism noun
• carnivorously adverb
• carnivorousness noun
• noncarnivorous adjective
• noncarnivorously adverb
• noncarnivorousness noun
• uncarnivorous adjective
• uncarnivorously adverb
• uncarnivorousness noun

Etymology

Origin of carnivorous

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

Example Sentences

Red foxes are one of the most prevalent carnivorous mammals globally and are found in Europe, Asia and North America as well as in parts of Africa.

From Barron's

According to the Bronx Zoo, red foxes are among the most widespread carnivorous mammals in the world.

From BBC

Red squirrels are not carnivorous—they eat the insides of pine cones.

From Literature

During the Early Cretaceous period, when it lived, small carnivorous dinosaurs hunted in the same ecosystems.

From Science Daily

We were determined to make it to Raccoon Island, and along the way spotted dolphins, iguanas, carnivorous birds and more, both coming and going.

From Salon