carno-, carn-, carne-, carni-

A humorous term for an animal or a person that has a greediness of appetite for flesh (meat): Tommy always had an insatiable hunger for steaks and hamburgers for lunch and his mother thought this carnivoracity quite unusual.

1. A flesh-eating animal that has an appetite for meat instead of vegetables: Arctic wolves, Asian golden cats, and coyotes are three examples of carnivores
2. Any animal belonging to the order Carnivora, which includes predominantly flesh-eating mammals: Such carnivores consists of dogs, cats, bears, wolves, and weasels among others.
3. Any flesh-eating predatory organism: Birds of prey or insectivorous plants, like the Venus-flytrap, pitcher plant, sundew, and butterwort are all carnivores among others.

True carnivores are not the same as omnivores

True carnivores are animals that subsist on a diet consisting of meat. They may consume other products presented to them, especially animal products like cheese and bone marrow, or sweet sugary substances like honey and syrup, however as these products are not essential to their existence, they do not need to consume them on a regular basis.

It's also said that true carnivores lack the physiology required for the efficient digestion of vegetable matter, and in fact some carnivorous mammals eat vegetation specifically as an emetic (vomiting) or forceful expulsion of the contents of the stomach.

Carnivores anticipating their next meal of flesh

A special article about carnivorous plants.

Descriptive of various predatory, flesh-eating mammals of the order Carnivora, including dogs, cats, bears, weasels, hyenas, and raccoons, as well as insectivorous plants: Mike's niece is a vegetarian, however he prefers a carnivorous diet and enjoys a hamburger from time to time. © ALL rights are reserved.
© ALL rights are reserved.

Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
for a list of additional Mickey Bach illustrations.

A reference to how any flesh-eating predatory organism consumes meat: Many animals and other flesh eating creatures devour flesh carnivorously in comparison to herbivorous creatures that only feed on plants.

The condition of being a flesh-eating creature; carnivory: The carnivorousness of cats can be exemplified by them consuming mice and moles, for example.

An excessive aversion toward meat, either raw or cooked: Anyone who has carnophobia does not want to see or eat any kind of animal flesh. NO! Get that meat away from me!
I ordered a vegetable dish, not that lousy animal flesh!

A reference to anyone who hates the mere sight of cooked or raw meat: Jake and his wife Mildred are carnophobic people, convinced that eating of any kind of animal flesh is unhealthy, while dining on various kinds of vegetables is much safer and better for their physical well-being.

A “flesh lizard” including all of the larger theropods: As time passed, larger kinds of carnosaurs seemed to have replaced the earlier types.

A “flesh (or meat-eating) lizard” from the Early Cretaceous period in southern Argentina: In the group of carnosaurus lizards, the larger theropods have short necks and large heads.

Referring to something that has the consistency of or resembling flesh; fleshy: There are carnose plants that have a fleshy or fatty thickness or texture which pertains to the succulent leaves or stems.

An excrescence [any abnormal growth from the surface of a body part] resembling flesh; a fleshy growth: Dr. Small, the dermatologist, suggested that Susan have the carnosity on her nose removed.

The decomposing or decaying flesh of dead an animal: Judy watched a documentary film about vultures and their feeding on carrion.

A burial vault for dead bodies: When Jack visited the old church, he had to go down several steps to see the charnel where many important people were buried.

A dish of meat, beans, corn, and tomatoes and spiced up with chili peppers: Virginia always liked to make chili con carne, especially during the winter months, and eat it with corn bread.

A form of life that only eats food that contains meat: A concarnivore can be an animal, a plant, or a certain kind of mushroom (about 120 different kinds) that consumes meat