carnivore

Definitions

carn (flesh) + vor (devour) = 'flesh-devourer.' The two Latin roots fuse directly: a carnivore is, literally, an animal whose diet is devouring meat. Compare herbivore (herb + vor, plant-devourer) and omnivore (omni + vor, all-devourer) — same vor, different first half.

Common Collocations

• 1.strict carnivore纯肉食动物
• 2.apex carnivore顶级食肉动物
• 3.large carnivore大型食肉动物
• 4.obligate carnivore专性肉食动物

Example Sentences

• 1.

  Lions are carnivores that hunt large grazing animals on the savanna.

• 2.

  Unlike a true carnivore, a bear will happily eat berries and honey too.

• 3.

  He jokingly called himself a committed carnivore who never touches salad.

Easily Confused

carnivore vs predator — A carnivore is defined by its diet (it eats meat); a predator is defined by its behavior (it hunts and kills prey). Most predators are carnivores, but a vulture is a carnivore that doesn't hunt (it scavenges), and a spider is a predator. Eats meat → carnivore; actively hunts → predator.