carnivores
|car-ni-vores|
🇺🇸
/ˈkɑːrnɪvɔːr/
🇬🇧
/ˈkɑː(r)nɪvɔː(r)/
(carnivore)
flesh-eating
Etymology
'carnivore' originates from New Latin (scientific Latin), specifically the word 'carnivorus', where 'carni-' came from Latin 'caro, carnis' meaning 'flesh' and '-vorus' came from Latin 'vorare' meaning 'to devour'.
'carnivorus' in Late Latin/Neo-Latin was adapted into English as 'carnivore' (borrowed into English scientific and general usage in the modern period).
Initially it meant 'flesh-eating' or 'devouring flesh'; over time the meaning has remained largely the same and is used both generally for flesh-eating animals and technically for members of the order Carnivora.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
animals that feed on the flesh of other animals; flesh-eating animals.
Lions, wolves and many big cats are carnivores.
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Noun 2
a member of the biological order Carnivora (in zoological classification), which includes animals like bears, dogs, and cats that typically have adaptations for a meat-based diet.
Many species classified as carnivores have specialized teeth and digestive systems for processing meat.
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Last updated: 2025/09/13 17:11