herbivorous
UK: hɜːˈbɪvərəs | US: hɜːrˈbɪvərəs
adj. feeding on plants
adj. describing an animal that primarily consumes vegetation
herbivorous = herb<plant> + vor<eat> + ous<adjective suffix>
- herb (from Latin herba, meaning "plant" or "grass")
- vor (from Latin vorare, meaning "to devour" or "to eat")
- ous (a suffix forming adjectives, indicating "full of" or "having the quality of")
Etymology Origin:
The word herbivorous combines Latin roots to vividly describe plant-eating behavior. Herb reflects the dietary source (plants), while vor emphasizes the act of consumption, often aggressively or greedily. The suffix -ous turns it into an adjective, commonly used in biological classifications (e.g., carnivorous, omnivorous). This structure mirrors scientific Latin, where precision in describing ecological niches is key.
Deer are herbivorous animals that graze on leaves and grass.
The herbivorous dinosaur species relied solely on ferns and cycads for sustenance.
Farmers protect their crops from herbivorous insects using natural repellents.
Herbivorous mammals often have specialized teeth for grinding plant material.
Zoos design enclosures to mimic the natural habitats of herbivorous species.