Definition

1. Noun:
   • An animal that feeds primarily on flesh: A carnivore is any organism whose diet consists mainly of meat, obtained through predation or scavenging.
   • A mammal of the order Carnivora: In a more specific biological classification, a carnivore is a member of the mammalian order Carnivora, which includes families like cats, dogs, bears, and seals, many of which are flesh-eaters.

Usage Examples

• General meaning (flesh-eating animal):
  • The lion is an apex carnivore in its ecosystem.
  • Insectivorous plants are sometimes described as botanical carnivores.
• Specific biological meaning (member of order Carnivora):
  • Dogs and cats are both familiar carnivores, though their diets can vary.
  • Terrestrial carnivores typically have powerful jaws and sharp teeth.

Advanced Usage

• Obligate vs. Facultative Carnivore:
  • An obligate carnivore (like a cat) requires a diet of meat to thrive and obtain certain nutrients.
  • A facultative carnivore (like a dog) eats meat but can also digest plant material.

Variants and Related Words

• Carnivorous (adjective): Describing the characteristic of eating flesh.
  • The Venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant.
• Carnivoran (adjective/noun): Pertaining to or a member of the order Carnivora.
  • Seals are carnivoran mammals.

Synonyms

• Predator (especially for animals that hunt live prey).
• Flesh-eater.
• Meat-eater.

Antonyms

• Herbivore: An animal that feeds on plants.
• Omnivore: An animal that eats both plants and meat.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• "At the top of the food chain": This phrase is often associated with apex carnivores, which have no natural predators.
  • As the region's primary carnivore, the wolf is at the top of the food chain.

Noun

1. any animal that feeds on flesh
   • Tyrannosaurus Rex was a large carnivore
   • insectivorous plants are considered carnivores
2. a terrestrial or aquatic flesh-eating mammal
   • terrestrial carnivores have four or five clawed digits on each limb