Main Entry: car·niv·o·rous

Pronunciation: \kär-ˈni-v(ə-)rəs\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Latin carnivorus, from carn-, caro + -vorus -vorous

Date: 1592

1 : subsisting or feeding on animal tissues
2 of a plant : subsisting on nutrients obtained from the breakdown of animal protoplasm (as of insects)
3 : of or relating to the carnivores
4 : rapacious

— car·niv·o·rous·ly adverb

— car·niv·o·rous·ness noun

— car·niv·ory \kär-ˈni-və-rē\ noun