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carnivores - 3 dictionary results

car⋅ni⋅vore

[kahr-nuh-vawr, -vohr]
–noun
1. an animal that eats flesh.
2. a flesh-eating mammal of the order Carnivora, comprising the dogs, cats, bears, seals, and weasels.
3. an insectivorous plant.

Origin:
1850–55; < L carnivorus carnivorous


car⋅niv⋅o⋅ral [kahr-niv-er-uhl] , adjective
car·ni·vore   (kär'nə-vôr', -vōr')   
n.  
  1. A flesh-eating animal.
  2. Any of various predatory, flesh-eating mammals of the order Carnivora, including the dogs, cats, bears, weasels, hyenas, and raccoons.
  3. One who victimizes or injures others; a predator.
  4. An insectivorous plant.

[From French, meat-eating, from Latin carnivorus; see carnivorous.]
carnivore   (kär'nə-vôr')  Pronunciation Key 
    1. An animal that feeds chiefly on the flesh of other animals. Carnivores include predators such as lions and alligators, and scavengers such as hyenas and vultures. In a food chain, carnivores are either secondary or tertiary consumers. Compare detritivore, herbivore.
    2. Any of various generally meat-eating mammals of the order Carnivora. Carnivores have large, sharp canine teeth and large brains, and the musculoskeletal structure of their forelimbs permits great flexibility for springing at prey. Many carnivores remain in and defend a single territory. Dogs, cats, bears, weasels, raccoons, hyenas, and (according to some classifications) seals and walruses are all carnivores.
  1. A plant that eats insects, such as a Venus flytrap.

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