adjective
herbivorous
ur-BIV-er-us/ɜːrˈbɪvərəs/
Feeding on plants rather than animals.
The herbivorous deer feeds directly on leaves growing from the shrub.
Etymology
Herba and vorare express “plant-devouring.” As an adjective, the word describes a feeding habit: relying mainly or entirely on plants for food.
In context
Elands are primarily herbivorous feeding on a variety of vegetation. Their diet includes grasses, leaves, shoots, and herbs.
More examples
- Cows are herbivorous and spend hours grazing on grass.
- Many herbivorous insects chew holes in garden leaves.
- Unlike carnivorous dinosaurs, herbivorous dinosaurs ate plants.
Forms
herbivorous
herbivore noun — An animal that feeds on plants.
herbivory noun — The practice of feeding on plants.
Similar words
- plant-eating
- Expresses the same feeding habit in everyday language.
- vegetarian
- Usually describes people or diets that exclude meat.