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.

QUIZZES

DON’T VACILLATE! VANQUISH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

It’d be a real faux pas to miss this quiz on the words from August 3–9, 2020!
Question 1 of 7
What does “vacillate” mean?
to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.
to cause to be empty or unoccupied.
to assent tacitly; agree; consent.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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 adjective
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.