zoochoric
|zoo-chor-ic|
🇺🇸
/ˌzuːəˈkɔːrɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˌzuːəˈkɒrɪk/
dispersed by animals
Etymology
'zoochoric' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'zōion' meaning 'animal' and 'chorein' meaning 'to spread or disperse'.
'zoochoric' developed from the modern scientific noun 'zoochory' (formed from Greek roots) with the adjectival suffix '-ic' to make 'zoochoric' in English scientific usage.
Initially coined to describe the process 'dispersal by animals' (as in 'zoochory'), the adjective form has retained that specialized botanical/ecological meaning in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
describing seeds, fruits, or other plant parts that are dispersed by animals (e.g., eaten by animals and passed in droppings or carried on fur).
Many tropical plants have zoochoric fruits that are eaten and dispersed by birds.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/14 22:46