florivorous
|flo/ri/vor/ous|
🇺🇸
/flɔːˈrɪvərəs/
🇬🇧
/flɒˈrɪvərəs/
flower-eating
Etymology
'florivorous' originates from Latin, specifically the combining form 'flori-' from 'flos, floris' meaning 'flower', and from Latin 'vorare' meaning 'to devour' (via the suffix '-vorous').
'florivorous' was formed in New/Modern Latin as 'florivorus' from Latin elements and modeled on similar coinages like 'herbivorous' and 'carnivorous', and was adopted into English with the same form.
Initially it meant 'devouring or feeding on flowers' and this primary meaning has been retained in modern usage as 'feeding on flowers' or 'flower-eating'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
feeding on or eating flowers; pertaining to organisms that consume flowers as a primary food source.
Several beetle species are florivorous, damaging petals and reproductive parts of the blossoms.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/09 01:03