anthophagous
|an/tho/pha/gous|
C2
🇺🇸
/ænˈθɑfəɡəs/
🇬🇧
/ænˈθɒfəɡəs/
flower-eating
Etymology
Etymology Information
'anthophagous' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'anthos' and 'phagein', where 'anthos' meant 'flower' and 'phagein' meant 'to eat.'
Historical Evolution
'anthophagous' was formed in New Latin/scientific coinage from the Greek elements and entered English usage in technical biological contexts (19th century onward) as 'anthophagous.'
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'flower-eating' and over time it has retained this specialized biological meaning of 'feeding on flowers.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
feeding on flowers; flower-eating (used especially in biology and entomology).
The anthophagous beetle stripped the petals from the blossoms.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/24 17:02