insectivore
[ in-sek-tuh-vawr, -vohr ]
/ ɪnˈsɛk təˌvɔr, -ˌvoʊr /
noun
an insectivorous animal or plant.
any mammal of the order Insectivora, comprising the moles, shrews, and Old World hedgehogs.
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Origin of insectivore
1860–65; back formation from insectivorous; see -vore
Words nearby insectivore
insectary, insecticide, insectifuge, insectile, Insectivora, insectivore, insectivorous, insectivorous bat, insectology, insect wax, insecure
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for insectivore
Indeed, one insectivore of the genus Sorex (the shrew-mouse genus) is the absolutely smallest mammal which is known to exist.
British Dictionary definitions for insectivore
insectivore
/ (ɪnˈsɛktɪˌvɔː) /
noun
any placental mammal of the order Insectivora, being typically small, with simple teeth, and feeding on invertebrates. The group includes shrews, moles, and hedgehogs
any animal or plant that derives nourishment from insects
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Scientific definitions for insectivore
insectivore
[ ĭn-sĕk′tə-vôr′ ]
An animal or plant that feeds mainly on insects.
Any of various small, usually nocturnal mammals of the order Insectivora that feed on insects and other invertebrates. Insectivores have long snouts and resemble rodents, but lack gnawing incisors. Moles, shrews, hedgehogs, and tenrecs are insectivores.
Other words from insectivore
insectivorous adjectiveThe American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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