herbivorous
/ˈhɜːrbɪvərəs/adjective★Intermediate
formal
Relating to or feeding on plants; plant-eating.
Cows are herbivorous animals that primarily consume grass.
Giraffes are herbivorous, feeding mainly on leaves from tall trees.
💡
Often used in biological and ecological contexts to describe animals with plant-based diets.
Collocations
herbivorous animalAn animal that eats plants.herbivorous dietA diet consisting primarily of plant-based foods.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
herbivorephrase
An animal that eats plants.
💡Pro Tip
Scientific Context
Use 'herbivorous' when describing animals or diets in biological or ecological contexts.
⚡Gold Rule
Avoid Overgeneralization
Do not use 'herbivorous' for diets that include occasional animal products unless specified.
📖Word Origin
From Latin 'herba' (grass, herb) + '-vorous' (devouring), meaning 'plant-eating'.
📝Usage Notes
Commonly used in scientific and biological discussions about animal diets.
Word Breakdown
herb
plant
root-vorous
devouring
suffixEnglish Dictionary