Carnivorous \Car*niv"o*rous\, a. [L. carnivorus; caro, carnis, flesh + varare to devour.]

Eating or feeding on flesh. The term is applied:
   (a) to animals which naturally seek flesh for food, as the tiger, dog, etc.;
   (b) to plants which are supposed to absorb animal food;
   (c) to substances which destroy animal tissue, as caustics.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)