graminivorous

English

Etymology

From Latin graminivorus, from gramen (“grass”) + -vorus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡɹæmɪˈnɪvəɹəs/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪvəɹəs

Adjective

graminivorous (comparative more graminivorous, superlative most graminivorous)

1. (entomology) That eats grasses and seeds.
   • 1843, [Frederick] Marryat, chapter XII, in Narrative of the Travels and Adventures of Monsieur Violet, in California, Sonora, & Western Texas. […], volume II, London: Longman, Brown, Green, & Longmans, […], →OCLC, page 257:

     We passed a large jaguar, glaring fiercely at a calf ten feet from him; […] Had we powder to waste, we would certainly have rid the graminivorous from many of their carnivorous neighbours, but we were now entering a tract of country celebrated for the depredations of the Texians and Buggles free bands, and every charge of powder thrown away was a chance the less, in case of a fight.

   • 1854, Charles Dickens, chapter II, 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

• 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

that eats grasses and seeds

• Afrikaans: grasvretende
• Bulgarian: тревопасен (trevopasen)
• Dutch: graminivoor
• French: graminivore
• Polish: trawożerny (pl)
• Spanish: graminívoro
• Turkish: otçul (tr)
• Vietnamese: ăn cỏ