Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Xylophagous

Xy-loph′a-gous

,
Adj.
[Gr.
ξυλοφάγοσ
eating wood;
ξύλον
wood +
φαγεῖν
to eat.]
(Zool.)
(a)
Eating, boring in, or destroying, wood; – said especially of certain insect larvae, crustaceans, and mollusks.
(b)
Of or pertaining to the genus
Xylophaga
.

Definition 2024


xylophagous

xylophagous

English

Adjective

xylophagous (not comparable)

  1. Feeding on wood. (of insects etc.)
    • 1841, William Chambers and Robert Chambers [eds.], Chambers’ Edinburgh Journal, volume 9, page 247
      Man has many times suffered from his attempts at extermination, and in no way, perhaps, would he suffer more, than by utterly destroying the mischievous teredo, and its active little ally, the xylophagous linmeria.
  2. Destructive to wood. (of fungi etc.)

Translations

Related terms