omnivores
|om-ni-vores|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈɑm.nəˌvɔrz/
🇬🇧
/ˈɒm.nɪ.vɔːz/
(omnivore)
eats everything
Etymology
Etymology Information
'omnivore' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'omnivorus', where 'omni-' meant 'all' and 'vorare' meant 'to devour'.
Historical Evolution
'omnivorus' passed into New/Scientific Latin as 'omnivorus' and was later adopted into English as 'omnivore' (usage recorded from the 19th century).
Meaning Changes
Initially it meant 'devouring all' (literally consuming everything), and over time it developed into the biological sense 'an animal that eats both plants and animals'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural form of 'omnivore' — animals (or people) that eat both plant and animal matter.
Omnivores such as bears and pigs eat both plants and animals.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/13 16:55