zoophage
|zo-o-phage|
C2
🇺🇸
/ˈzoʊəfeɪdʒ/
🇬🇧
/ˈzəʊəfeɪdʒ/
animal-eater
Etymology
Etymology Information
'zoophage' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'zōon' and 'phagein', where 'zōon' meant 'animal' and 'phagein' meant 'to eat'.
Historical Evolution
'zoophage' developed via Neo-Latin forms such as 'zoophagus' and the adjective 'zoophagous' and was adopted into modern English as 'zoophage'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'animal-eating', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an organism that eats animals; an animal-eating organism (a carnivore).
A zoophage typically consumes other animals rather than plants.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/13 18:40