easy
A rabbit is a herbivore that eats grasses and leaves.
What does Herbivore mean?
A herbivore is an animal that feeds mainly on plants or plant material.
Dictionary definition
A herbivore is an animal adapted to feed mainly on plants or plant material. Herbivore describes a dietary role, so it does not name one branch of animal classification, and an individual may occasionally eat something outside its usual diet.
Example sentences
Herbivore in a sentence
medium
The caterpillar is a herbivore even though it is much smaller than a deer.
hard
Different teeth and digestive systems help each herbivore process its usual plant food.
hard
In the food web, the herbivore carries energy from producers to predators.
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Practice the meaning of Herbivore
Answer three quick questions about its meaning and related words.
Question 1 of 3
Practice 1
What is a herbivore?
Herbivore describes an animal's usual plant-based feeding role.
Practice 2
Which animal can correctly be called a herbivore?
Herbivores include plant-eating animals of many sizes and animal groups.
Practice 3
Which statement is most accurate?
Mammals, insects, reptiles, birds, and other animals can be herbivores.
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Herbivore
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Sounds like
hur · buh · vor · strongest beat: hur
Tap each sound part, then blend the whole word together.
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WordHerbivore.
Partnoun.
MeaningHerbivore means A herbivore is an animal that feeds mainly on plants or plant material.
ExampleExample: A rabbit is a herbivore that eats grasses and leaves.
Word breakdown
3 syllables. Say each part, then blend the word.
- Syllables
- hur · buh · vor
- Strongest beat
- hur
- Ending
- vor
- Tip
- Put a little extra energy on hur.
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Synonym review
Does Herbivore have synonyms?
Herbivore is the precise dietary term. Plant eater and plant-feeding animal explain the meaning but are descriptive phrases rather than lexical synonyms.
Antonym review
Does Herbivore have an opposite?
Herbivore has no strict antonym because carnivore and omnivore are other dietary categories rather than universal opposites. Carnivore is a useful contrast in lessons.
Word family
Herbivore word family
Base word
herbivore
noun
herbivores
The plural form of herbivore.
adjective
herbivorous
Feeding mainly on plants or plant material.
noun
herbivory
The eating of plants or plant parts by animals.
Related words
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Student support
Understand Herbivore
Hint for students
Focus on the animal's usual food source. Herbivore describes diet, so look for leaves, grass, seeds, fruit, algae, or other plant material.
Common mix-up
Herbivore does not mean grass-eating mammal. Animals from many groups can be herbivores, and mainly plant-eating is a safer scientific guide than assuming every individual eats plants only.
Try it in class or at home
Students examine short diet cards for six animals, classify each as herbivore, carnivore, or omnivore, and underline the food evidence. They discuss one ambiguous seasonal diet without forcing a label.
Teacher prompt
Compare a deer, caterpillar, and tortoise. What makes each a herbivore even though they belong to different animal groups?
Animal Classification Wheel
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Spin this researched animal vocabulary wheel to compare body groups, backbones, diets, predator-prey roles, and the evidence behind each classification.
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