polyphagia

[ pol-ee-fey-jee-uh, -juh ]
/ ˌpɒl iˈfeɪ dʒi ə, -dʒə /

noun

Pathology. excessive desire to eat.
Zoology. the habit of subsisting on many different kinds of food.

Origin of polyphagia

1685–95; < New Latin < Greek polyphagía; see poly-, -phagy

OTHER WORDS FROM polyphagia

pol·y·pha·gi·an, noun, adjective po·lyph·a·gist [puh-lif-uh-jist] /pəˈlɪf ə dʒɪst/, noun po·lyph·a·gous [puh-lif-uh-guh s] /pəˈlɪf ə gəs/, pol·y·phag·ic [pol-ee-faj-ik, -fey-jik] /ˌpɒl iˈfædʒ ɪk, -ˈfeɪ dʒɪk/, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for polyphagous

British Dictionary definitions for polyphagous

polyphagia
/ (ˌpɒlɪˈfeɪdʒə) /

noun

  1. an abnormal desire to consume excessive amounts of food, esp as the result of a neurological disorder
  2. an insatiable appetite
the habit of certain animals, esp certain insects, of feeding on many different types of food

Derived forms of polyphagia

polyphagous (pəˈlɪfəɡəs), adjective

Word Origin for polyphagia

C17: New Latin, from Greek, from poluphagos eating much; see poly-, -phagy

Medical definitions for polyphagous

polyphagia
[ pŏl′ē-fājə ]

n.

Excessive eating; gluttony.