omnivore

/'ɔmnivɔ:/

Học thuật

Thân thiện

An omnivore like a bear eats both fish and berries from the forest.

Definition

Noun:
- An animal that feeds on both animal and vegetable substances: An organism whose diet naturally includes a wide variety of food sources, such as plants, meat, fungi, and algae.
- A person who eats all kinds of foods: A human who consumes a diet that includes both plant-based and animal-based products without restriction.

Examples of Usage

Noun (Animal):
- Bears are classic omnivores, eating berries, fish, and small mammals.
- The raccoon's success as an urban dweller is due to its nature as a highly adaptable omnivore.
Noun (Human):
- As an omnivore, she enjoys a balanced diet of vegetables, grains, and lean meats.
- He considers himself a culinary omnivore, willing to try any food from any culture.

Advanced Usage

Ecological Context: In biology, "omnivore" describes a trophic level. An omnivore occupies a flexible position in the food web, acting as both a primary and secondary consumer.
- The shift in the ecosystem was studied by tracking the population of key omnivores.
Figurative Use: The term can be applied metaphorically to describe someone with broad, indiscriminate tastes in non-food contexts, such as media or information.
- He is a cultural omnivore, devouring everything from classical literature to comic books.

Variants and Related Words

Omnivorous (adj): Feeding on a variety of food of both plant and animal origin; figuratively, taking in everything indiscriminately.
- Pigs are omnivorous animals.
- She has an omnivorous appetite for knowledge.
Herbivore (n): An animal that feeds only on plants.
Carnivore (n): An animal that feeds only on other animals.

Synonyms

Generalist feeder: An organism that eats a wide variety of available foods.
Opportunistic feeder: An animal that consumes whatever food source is readily accessible.

Related Phrases

Omnivore's dilemma: A phrase popularized by Michael Pollan, referring to the human challenge of deciding what to eat given the vast array of available choices.
- The modern supermarket is the perfect setting for the omnivore's dilemma.

An omnivore like a bear eats both fish and berries from the forest.

Noun