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Translate files Anteater
/ˈæntiˌiːtər/
Meaning & Definition
noun
A mammal of the family Myrmecophagidae, known for its long snout and specialized tongue used for eating ants and termites.
The giant anteater is known for its distinctive long snout and large claws.
Any of several species of marsupials or insectivores that have similar feeding habits.
During our trip to the zoo, we saw a fascinating exhibit featuring a lesser anteater.
A person who eats a lot of ants or similar small insects, often used metaphorically.
He was such an anteater when it came to cleaning out the ant hill in his backyard.
Etymology
From Latin 'ante' meaning 'before' and 'edare' meaning 'to eat'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
anteater:
Refers to the actual animal.
beware of anteaters:
A humorous way to indicate excessive focus on details.
Related Words
Slang Meanings
A person who is overly meticulous or detail-oriented.
Stop being such an anteater about the project; it's fine to make some choices!