noun
carnivore
KAH-nih-vaw
Carnivore (noun) means an animal whose diet consists mainly or entirely of meat. Example: “Lions are classic carnivores, built to hunt and eat other animals.”
noun
1
An animal whose diet consists mainly or entirely of meat.
"Lions are classic carnivores, built to hunt and eat other animals."
"Some dinosaurs were enormous carnivores."
2
Informally, a person who eats meat, especially as opposed to a vegetarian.
"He jokingly called himself an unapologetic carnivore at every barbecue."
How to use carnivore
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA meat-eater — used for animals biologically adapted to eat flesh, and casually for people who eat meat.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
carnivore diet
apex carnivore
strict carnivore
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Word forms
- Plural
- carnivores
Fill the gap
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Lions are classic _____, built to hunt and eat other animals.
Etymology
From Latin carnivorus, "flesh-eating," from caro ("flesh") + vorare ("to devour") — the same "-vore" ending seen in "herbivore" and "omnivore."
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for carnivore
See all rhymes for carnivore →Frequently asked questions
What does “carnivore” mean?
The word “carnivore” means an animal whose diet consists mainly or entirely of meat. In plain terms, a meat-eater — used for animals biologically adapted to eat flesh, and casually for people who eat meat.
How do you pronounce “carnivore”?
“Carnivore” is pronounced KAH-nih-vaw (/ˈkɑɹ.nɪ.voɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “carnivore” in a sentence?
Here is “carnivore” used in a sentence: “Lions are classic carnivores, built to hunt and eat other animals.”
What part of speech is “carnivore”?
“Carnivore” is a noun.
Where does the word “carnivore” come from?
The word “carnivore” comes from Latin. From Latin carnivorus, "flesh-eating," from caro ("flesh") + vorare ("to devour") — the same "-vore" ending seen in "herbivore" and "omnivore.".
How many meanings does “carnivore” have?
“Carnivore” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an animal whose diet consists mainly or entirely of meat.
