n. 1. Any of various small, principally nocturnal mammals that characteristically feed chiefly on insects and other small invertebrates, and including the shrews, moles, and hedgehogs. 2. An insectivorous organism. [New Latin Īnsectivora, order name : Latin īnsectum, insect; see INSECT + Latin -vora, neuter pl. of -vorus, -vorous.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.