Definition of insectivore in English:
insectivore
noun ɪnˈsɛktɪvɔːɪnˈsɛktəˌvɔr
1An animal that feeds on insects, worms, and other invertebrates.
Example sentencesExamples
- Offering seeds may attract lots of birds, but generally insectivores prefer suet (found at the meat counter at your grocery).
- It seems, however, that insectivores and fruit-eating omnivores exhibit different migration strategies, each with an associated suite of morphological and behavioral adaptations to overcome the physical challenges of migration.
- Are frugivores relatively rare and insectivores quite common?
- Omnivores and insectivores exhibit different fuel-use strategies to overcome the physiological challenges of migration.
- Gallus gallus is an herbivore and insectivore.
- 1.1Zoology A mammal of the obsolete order Insectivora.
Example sentencesExamples
- All moles are insectivores and all of them are great tunnelers.
- When the dinosaurs ruled the world, the mammals hid in the shadows, daring to grow no bigger than shrew-like insectivores that hunted at night.
- Aside from the obvious connotation of a burrowing insectivore, a mole could also mean a small congenital growth on the human skin, usually slightly raised and dark and sometimes hairy.
- The insectivore hedgehog has an unclear evolutionary-rate pattern, as shown by the inconsistent results obtained with the two different tests.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from modern Latin insectivorus, from insectum (see insect) + -vorus 'devouring', on the pattern of Latin carnivorus 'carnivorous'.
Definition of insectivore in US English:
insectivore
nounɪnˈsɛktəˌvɔrinˈsektəˌvôr
1An insectivorous animal or plant.
Example sentencesExamples
- Are frugivores relatively rare and insectivores quite common?
- It seems, however, that insectivores and fruit-eating omnivores exhibit different migration strategies, each with an associated suite of morphological and behavioral adaptations to overcome the physical challenges of migration.
- Gallus gallus is an herbivore and insectivore.
- Offering seeds may attract lots of birds, but generally insectivores prefer suet (found at the meat counter at your grocery).
- Omnivores and insectivores exhibit different fuel-use strategies to overcome the physiological challenges of migration.
- 1.1Zoology A mammal of the obsolete order Insectivora.
Example sentencesExamples
- When the dinosaurs ruled the world, the mammals hid in the shadows, daring to grow no bigger than shrew-like insectivores that hunted at night.
- The insectivore hedgehog has an unclear evolutionary-rate pattern, as shown by the inconsistent results obtained with the two different tests.
- All moles are insectivores and all of them are great tunnelers.
- Aside from the obvious connotation of a burrowing insectivore, a mole could also mean a small congenital growth on the human skin, usually slightly raised and dark and sometimes hairy.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from modern Latin insectivorus, from insectum (see insect) + -vorus ‘devouring’, on the pattern of Latin carnivorus ‘carnivorous’.