[car.niv.o.rous] adj [L carnivorus, fr. carn-, caro + -vorus -vorous] (1592) 1: subsisting or feeding on animal tissues
2. of a plant: subsisting on nutrients obtained from the breakdown of animal protoplasm
3: of or relating to the carnivores
4: rapacious -- car.niv.o.rous.ly adv -- car.niv.o.rous.ness n