carnivorous

[ kahr-niv-er-uhs ]
/ kɑrˈnɪv ər əs /

adjective

flesh-eating: A dog is a carnivorous animal.
of the carnivores.

Origin of carnivorous

1640–50; < Latin carnivorus, equivalent to carni- (combining form of carō flesh) + -vorus -vorous

SYNONYMS FOR carnivorous

1 meat-eating, predatory, predacious.

OTHER WORDS FROM carnivorous

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH carnivorous

carnivorous herbivorous omnivorous

Words nearby carnivorous

carnival, carnival glass, carnivalesque, carnivora, carnivore, carnivorous, carnose, carnot, carnot cycle, carnot engine, carnot principle

British Dictionary definitions for carnivorism

carnivorous
/ (kɑːˈnɪvərəs) /

adjective

(esp of animals) feeding on flesh
(of plants such as the pitcher plant and sundew) able to trap and digest insects and other small animals
of or relating to the Carnivora
informal aggressively ambitious or reactionary

Derived forms of carnivorous

carnivorously, adverb carnivorousness, noun

Word Origin for carnivorous

C17: from Latin carnivorus, from carō flesh + vorāre to consume