[ əl'trɪʃ(ə)l ]
■ adjective Zoology relating to or denoting a bird or other animal species whose young are hatched or born in an undeveloped state and require care and feeding by the parents. Often contrasted with precocial .
Origin
C19: from L. altrix , altric- , feminine of altor 'nourisher', from alere 'nourish'.