carnivore

UK: /ˈkɑː^rnɪvɔː^r/ US: /ˈkɑrnəˌvɔr/ ,(kär′nə vôr′, -vōr′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

car•ni•vore /ˈkɑrnəˌvɔr/   n. [countable]

1. Zoology an animal that eats flesh.

See -vor-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

car•ni•vore  (kär′nə vôr′, -vōr′), n. 

1. Zoology an animal that eats flesh.
2. Zoology a flesh-eating mammal of the order Carnivora, comprising the dogs, cats, bears, seals, and weasels.
3. Zoology an insectivorous plant.

• Latin carnivorus carnivorous
• 1850–55;

car•niv•o•ral  (kär niv′ər əl), adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

carnivore / ˈkɑːnɪˌvɔː/ noun

1. any placental mammal of the order Carnivora, typically having large pointed canine teeth and sharp molars and premolars, specialized for eating flesh. The order includes cats, dogs, bears, raccoons, hyenas, civets, and weasels
2. any other animal or any plant that feeds on animals
3. an aggressively ambitious person

Etymology: 19th Century: probably back formation from carnivorous