avicolous
|a-vi-col-ous|
/ˈeɪvɪkələs/
bird‑inhabiting
Etymology
'avicolous' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'avis' meaning 'bird', combined with the suffix '-colous' (from Latin 'colere') meaning 'to inhabit'.
'avicolous' was formed in modern English/Neo‑Latin by combining 'avi-' (from Latin 'avis') with the productive English/Neo‑Latin suffix '-colous' (seen in words like 'sylvicolous'), resulting in the adjective 'avicolous'.
Initially it denoted 'inhabiting or living on birds' and has largely retained this specialized biological meaning in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
living in or on birds; used of organisms (e.g., parasites, mites, lice) that inhabit birds.
The mite species is avicolous, occurring mainly on seabirds.
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Adjective 2
relating to birds or bird life (pertaining to birds or their ecology).
The research examined avicolous behavior in urban parks.
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Last updated: 2025/12/02 10:06