autophage

English

Etymology

From auto- +‎ -phage.

Noun

autophage (plural autophages)

1. One who or that which eats itself.
   • 2023, Adebowale Akande, Politics Between Nations: Power, Peace, and Diplomacy, page 30:

     Racism's link to the franchise makes democracy an autophage that threatens to eat itself because citizens generally become anxious about losing their right to vote.

2. A rocket that consumes parts of its own structure as fuel.

Related terms

• autophagous
• autophagy

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /o.tɔ.faʒ/, /ɔ.tɔ.faʒ/

• Audio:

  (file)

Adjective

autophage (plural autophages)

1. (biology) autophagous

Related terms

• autophagie