carnivorous

Everyday

1. A carnivorous animal eats meat, mostly other animals: lions, sharks and eagles are carnivorous. tree →
2. A carnivorous plant catches and digests insects or small animals, like the Venus flytrap or sundew. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on food chains and classification, animals are herbivores (plants only), carnivores (meat only) or omnivores (both); carnivores are often predators with sharp teeth or talons. Carnivorous plants grow in poor, boggy soil and get extra nutrients from insects. Phrases: «carnivorous animal», «carnivorous plant», «carnivore, herbivore, omnivore».

Examples

• Sharks are carnivorous. tree →
• A Venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant. tree →
• Carnivorous dinosaurs like T. rex had sharp teeth. tree →
• Tigers are carnivores, but bears are omnivores. tree →
• The sundew is carnivorous: it traps flies on sticky hairs. tree →
• Cats are carnivorous, so they need meat in their food. tree →

Note

Noun: «carnivore». Say it "car-NIV-or-us". Related: herbivorous, omnivorous, insectivorous. Myth: carnivorous plants do not eat people — they catch small insects. Some scavengers are carnivorous without hunting.