carnivore

noun car·ni·vore \ ˈkär-nə-ˌvȯr \

Updated on: 15 Apr 2018

1 : any of an order (Carnivora) of typically flesh-eating mammals that includes dogs, foxes, bears, raccoons, and cats; broadly : a carnivorous animal

2 : a carnivorous plant

the Venus flytrap and other carnivores subsisting on insects

See carnivore defined for English-language learners

See carnivore defined for kids

Recent Examples of carnivore from the Web

Her recipes aren't lacking in satiety or flavor, though, and her food photos will make even the most staunch carnivore want to give Meatless Monday a try.

— christine byrne, SELF, "15 of the Best Healthy Food Bloggers to Follow on Pinterest," 11 Apr. 2018
This darling bistro across from Blackcomb lift ensures that vegetarians and carnivores can dine without compromise.

— marlise kast-myers, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Medal-worthy Whistler," 27 Mar. 2018
Once these carnivores were killed off, the mammals began entering the water.

— peter fimrite, San Francisco Chronicle, "Had our human ancestors taken to the sea, we would have been big and blubbery," 26 Mar. 2018
Meanwhile, Casa Blanca enables my carnivore tendencies.

— brion o’connor, BostonGlobe.com, "It’s all in the family at Casa Blanca," 23 Mar. 2018
For example, in Amazonia, the Aché make pets of coatis (group-living racoon-like carnivores), believing that their wild relatives transport human souls to the land of the dead.

— Longreads, "The Way We Treat Our Pets Is More Paleolithic Than Medieval," 22 Mar. 2018
And through its Bear Wise Wyoming program, the state educates residents throughout bear country on how to properly store barbecue grills and pet food to deter the curious carnivore from coming around homes.

— dino grandoni, Washington Post, "The Energy 202: Wyoming considers grizzly hunt after Trump team took bear off endangered list," 20 Mar. 2018
The presentations on Monday, for example, were grouped by: citizen science; cooperative ecosystem study units; chronic wasting disease; birds; inland lakes; Asian carp; carnivores; tools and technology; walleye; salmonids.

— paul a. smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Smith: Conference provides snapshot of Midwest fish and wildlife issues," 3 Feb. 2018
The 26-year-old knows how to stuff a sausage, smoke a chicken, braise a lamb shank, cure a capicola and generally make carnivores drool.

— mary colurso, AL.com, "Can a big guy create delicate desserts? Auburn chef shows us how on Food Network reality show," 7 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'carnivore.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.