Car*niv"o*rous (?), a. [L. carnivorus; caro, carnis, flesh + varare to devour.]
Eating or feeding on flesh. The term is applied: (a) to animals which naturally seek flesh for food, as the tiger, dog, etc.; (b) to plants which are supposed to absorb animal food; (c) to substances which destroy animal tissue, as caustics.
© Webster 1913.