adj. 1. Of or relating to carnivores. 2. Flesh-eating or predatory: a carnivorous bird. 3. Characterized by destructive or predatory behavior or instincts: "a city becoming increasingly carnivorous as it becomes decreasingly serious about governance" (George F. Will). 4. Botany Capable of trapping insects or other small organisms and absorbing nutrients from them. [From Latin carnivorus : carō, carn-, flesh; see sker-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + -vorus, -vorous.] car·nivo·rous·ly adv. car·nivo·rous·ness n. |
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