Characterized by destructive or predatory behavior or instincts: "a city becoming increasingly carnivorous as it becomes decreasingly serious about governance"(George F. Will).
Botany Capable of trapping insects or other small organisms and absorbing nutrients from them; insectivorous.
[From Latin carnivorus : carō, carn-, flesh; see sker-1 in Indo-European roots + -vorus, -vorous.] car·niv'o·rous·ly adv., car·niv'o·rous·ness n.
Main Entry: car·niv·o·rous Pronunciation: kär-'niv-(&-)r&s Function: adjective 1: subsisting or feeding on animaltissues 2: of or relating to the carnivores —car·niv·o·rous·lyadverb —car·niv·o·rous·nessnoun