necrophagous
1
9.9
- adjective
- /nɛkroʊˈfeɪɡəs/
- NSFW
:
necrófago
- Many decomposer organisms, such as certain fungi and bacteria, are necrophagous and help break down decaying matter.
Examples
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The nuns abandon her near a castle inhabited by another outcast, a necrophagous Duke whose image casts no reflection in the mirror and who "lives as if upon the other side of things" (121).
Academic text (2016) -
They're necrophagous.
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Most are necrophagous - eaters of dead bodies - a common niche in lightless, deep Antarctic waters where there is no primary productivity, but there is a gentle rain of organic material from the sunlit waters above.
Academic text (1992) -
The vulture is a necrophagous bird that plays an important role in the ecosystem by consuming dead animals.
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In the depths of the ocean, necrophagous creatures feed on the remains of dead marine life that sinks to the seabed.
Synonyms
An animal that eats dead or decaying matter from plants and animals
Feeding on dead animals and their decaying parts
Living on or feeding on dead plants and animals
A living thing that eats dead plant and animal matter, like earthworms
Surface Forms
Morphology
necrophagous = necrophage (opaque) = necrophage + ous
The elements are technical combining forms (necrophage + -ous) unfamiliar to average learners, so knowing common words will not allow derivation of meaning.
Etymology
Necrophagous breaks into necro- meaning 'dead' and -phagous meaning 'eating', so it literally means 'eating the dead'. Think of vultures or certain beetles that are scavengers and feed on animal remains, which is why we call animals that eat dead flesh necrophagous.