carnivore
KAR-ni-vor
/ˈkɑːr.nɪ.vɔːr/
An animal that feeds on flesh or meat.
Categorizes creatures whose diet consists mainly or exclusively of animal tissue.
The story behind the word. Formed from Latin 'caro' (stem 'carn-'), meaning flesh, combined with '-vorus' (devouring, from 'vorare'). The root 'carn-' also appears in words like 'carnival' (farewell to meat before Lent) and 'reincarnation' (returning in flesh).
Word relationships
- meat-eater: Meat-eater is informal, whereas carnivore is the precise biological classification.
- herbivore: Herbivores eat plant material, whereas carnivores eat meat.
Commonly confused with
- omnivore: An omnivore consumes both plants and meat, whereas a carnivore feeds almost exclusively on flesh.
Word family
- carnivorous (adjective): Feeding on animal flesh.
Collocations
- apex carnivore
- obligate carnivore
- carnivore species
- large carnivore
Example sentences
- "The lion is an obligate carnivore that requires meat to obtain vital nutrients like taurine." Mammalogy
- "Sharpened canine teeth and short digestive tracts are characteristic physical features of a carnivore." Comparative anatomy
Memory hook
CARN (chili con CARNE = meat) + VORE (devour) = meat devourer. Carn (flesh) + vore (eat) = meat eater.
When not to use
Do not use to describe animals that eat plant-based diets or mixed diets.
Fun facts
- Not all carnivores are mammals; pitcher plants and Venus flytraps are carnivorous plants!
Explore more words
musculature, conservation, feast, epicurean, cartilage, suture
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