insectivorous

[ in-sek-tiv-er-uhs ]

adjective
  1. feeding on insects, especially when they constitute the entire diet, as in the case of many arachnids, birds, and small mammals.

  2. Botany. having specialized leaves or leaf parts capable of trapping and digesting insects, as the Venus flytrap, the pitcher plants, and the sundews.

Origin of insectivorous

1
First recorded in 1655–65; from New Latin insectivorus, equivalent to insect + -i- + -vorous

usage note For insectivorous

Other words from insectivorous

  • in·sec·tiv·o·ry, noun

Words Nearby insectivorous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use insectivorous in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for insectivorous

insectivorous

/ (ˌɪnsɛkˈtɪvərəs) /


adjective
  1. feeding on or adapted for feeding on insects: insectivorous plants

  2. of or relating to the order Insectivora

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