Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun An organism, such as a bacterium, fungus, or insect, that feeds on dead plant or animal matter.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun biology An organism that feeds on detritus; a saprophage

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[German Detritivor : Latin dētrītus, something worn away, detritus (from past participle of dēterere, to lessen, wear away; see detriment) + Latin -vorus, eating, feeding on; see –vorous.]

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Examples

Comments

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  • If you like to eat delicious, decaying organic matter, you might be a detritivore!

    April 13, 2010

  • Cool word.

    March 7, 2018