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Showing results for coprophagous. Search instead for coprophagist.

coprophagous

American  
[kuh-prof-uh-guhs] / kəˈprɒf ə gəs /

adjective

  1. feeding on dung, as certain beetles.


coprophagous British  
/ kɒˈprɒfəɡəs /

adjective

  1. (esp of certain beetles) feeding on dung

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • coprophagia noun
  • coprophagist noun
  • coprophagy noun

Etymology

Origin of coprophagous

First recorded in 1820–30; copro- + -phagous

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The moths’ caterpillars are coprophagous or, to put it more bluntly, consumers of excrement.

From New York Times

He's drollest in his early scenes as the consummate loser with a coprophagous grin--a character perilously close to Rob Schneider's needy-nerdy copy-machine guy on Saturday Night Live years ago.

From Time Magazine Archive

Associated words: coprophagy, coprophagous, Augean, dungmeer, excrementitious, sterconst, sterconcolous, stercoraceous, bubulin. dupe, n. gull, cully, gudgeon, dotterel, victim. duplicate, a. double, twofold, duplex.--n. facsimile, counterpart.

From Project Gutenberg