necrophagous

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /neˈkrɑːfəɡəs/ UK /neˈkrɒfəɡəs/ See IPA manual

Freq #340188

Meanings

1

adj
feeding on dead or decaying animal matter

Necrophagous beetles arrived soon after the carcass was exposed.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · feeding on dead or decaying... carrion-eatingscavenging

Word family

Derived forms necrophagously

Related forms necrophagycarrion scavengerdetritivore

Etymology

Formed from necro-, 'dead body,' + -phagous, 'eating.' Both elements are Greek: nekros means 'dead person or corpse,' and -phagos comes from phagein, 'to eat.' The term is used chiefly in zoology and ecology for carrion-feeding organisms.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

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