graminivorous
English
editEtymology
editFrom Latin graminivorus, from gramen (“grass”) + -vorus.
Pronunciation
editAdjective
editgraminivorous (comparative more graminivorous, superlative most graminivorous)
- (entomology) That eats grasses and seeds.
- 1854, Charles Dickens, “(please specify the chapter name)”, in Hard Times. For These Times, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], →OCLC:
- “Bitzer,” said Thomas Gradgrind. “Your definition of a horse.” / “Quadruped. Graminivorous. Forty teeth; namely, twenty-four grinders, four eye-teeth, and twelve incisive. Sheds coat in the Spring; in marshy countries, sheds hoofs, too. Hoofs hard, but requiring to be shod with iron. Age known by marks in mouth.” Thus (and much more) Bitzer.
- 1906, Ambrose Bierce, “Abdomen”, in The Cynic’s Word Book, London: Arthur F. Bird […], →OCLC, page 4:
- If woman had a free hand in the world's marketing the race would become graminivorous.
Usage notes
edit- Although the term was formerly more widely used (for example, of grazing animals), it is now restricted to insects as most grazing animals are better termed herbivorous.
Translations
editthat eats grasses and seeds
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Categories:
- English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *gʰreh₁-
- English terms derived from Latin
- English 5-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- English lemmas
- English adjectives
- en:Entomology
- English terms with quotations
- en:Grasses