voracious

Pronunciation

IPA Phonetic Spelling for "voracious" (US English)

Here's the IPA phonetic spelling of "voracious" along with a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:

• vɔːˈɹeɪ.ʃəs

Sounds by Syllable:

• vo (vɔː):

• Long "o" sound like in "born"

• ra (ɹeɪ):

• Alveolar trill "r" sound like in "try"

• Diphthong "ei" sound like in "day"

• cious (ʃəs):

• Shushing consonant "sh" sound

• Short "e" sound like in "bed"

• Alveolar fricative "s" sound

Word Form Variations

The word "voracious" has the following variations:

• Singular: voracious (This is the base form you'd typically use.)

• Plural: voracious (There's no separate plural form for "voracious." It remains the same.)

• Comparative: more voracious (Used to compare the level of voraciousness between two things.)

• Superlative: most voracious (Used to indicate the strongest level of voraciousness among a group of things.)

• Related Nouns: voracity (This noun describes the quality of being voracious.)

There are no gerund (ing form) or past participle variations for "voracious" because it's an adjective, not a verb.

Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms

Adjective:

• Definition 1: Having a very large appetite or strong desire to consume something in large quantities. (Synonyms: ravenous, insatiable, greedy, devouring, consuming) (Antonyms: moderate, restrained, light-eating, content)

• Example: "The hikers were voracious after their long trek, devouring everything in sight."

• Definition 2: Extremely eager or enthusiastic for something, often to the point of consuming a lot of time or energy on it. (Synonyms: avid, passionate, zealous, inquisitive, studious) (Antonyms: apathetic, indifferent, unenthusiastic, casual)

• Example: "She's a voracious reader, constantly devouring new books."

Examples of Use

Books:

• Appetite: "The dragon was a voracious beast, capable of swallowing a knight whole." (Fantasy novel)

• Learning: "A voracious student, young Marie spent hours every night devouring textbooks." (Historical fiction) (This example uses the figurative sense of consuming knowledge)

Newspapers/Online Publications:

• "Grasshoppers are voracious eaters, capable of stripping entire fields bare in a matter of days." (Science article)

• "The new streaming service boasts a voracious library of movies and shows, catering to all tastes." (Tech review)

Entertainment Mediums:

• Movie: "In the film 'Jaws,' the great white shark is portrayed as a voracious predator, stalking beachgoers."

• Video Game: "The player character needs to gather voracious amounts of resources to build their defences."

Public Discourse:

• "My teenager has a voracious appetite - I swear they could eat their weight in pizza!" (Informal conversation)

• "The company is facing a voracious market, with new competitors emerging constantly." (Business discussion)

Bonus Example:

• Social Media: "Just finished the latest season of that show - it's so good, I became a voracious binge-watcher!" (Twitter post)

10 Famous Quotes Using the term Voracious

Unfortunately, there aren't many famous quotes that directly use the word "voracious" However, here are 10 quotes that capture similar ideas using synonyms or the concept of intense desire:

1. "Curiosity is the very first of the inventions of Nature." (Alexis Carrel) (Similar to "voracious" in its emphasis on a strong desire for knowledge)

2. "I have an insatiable curiosity about life and a burning desire to make my mark on the world." (Richard Branson) (Uses "insatiable" which is a synonym for "voracious")

3. "The only true wealth is time." (John Ruskin) (Speaks to the value of something someone might "devour" voraciously)

4. "The mind is everything. What you think you become." (Buddha) (Similar to the idea of the mind "consuming" thoughts and experiences)

5. "One must be amused." (Evelyn Waugh) (Speaks to a strong desire for entertainment, similar to a "voracious" appetite)

6. "Knowledge rests not upon truth alone, but upon error also." (Carl Jung) (Similar to the idea of "consuming" both positive and negative experiences)

7. "The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing." (Albert Einstein) (Highlights the importance of a strong desire for knowledge)

8. "The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change." (Carl Rogers) (Similar to the idea of constantly "devouring" new information)

9. "The unexamined life is not worth living." (Socrates) (Speaks to the importance of actively seeking knowledge and understanding).

10.  "I must govern the clock, not be governed by it." (Golda Meir) (Highlights the value of one's time, which someone might "devour" voraciously)

Etymology

The word "voracious" comes from a long line of words all about eating a lot! The root of the word is from the Latin verb "vorare" which means "to devour" or "to eat greedily." It's like an ancestor to our word "devour" as well.

The first time "voracious" showed up in English was around the mid-1600s. Back then, it only referred to someone or something with a massive appetite, like a monster with an endless stomach. Over time, the meaning expanded to include a strong desire for anything, not just food. So, you could now be "voracious" about learning something new or reading books, just like you could be "voracious" about pizza!

Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Voracious

• While there aren't many common idioms directly using "voracious," here are some phrases that incorporate the word and capture its essence:

  • Voracious appetite: This directly refers to someone who eats a lot, underlining the original meaning of the word.

  • Voracious reader/learner: This describes someone who consumes a vast amount of books, knowledge, or information with great enthusiasm.

  • A voracious consumer: This can be used more generally to describe someone who enthusiastically uses or acquires large quantities of something, not just food.

  • With a voracious hunger for: This emphasises a strong and persistent desire for something, like "He approached the project with a voracious hunger for success."

  • A voracious curiosity: This describes someone with an intense and constant desire to learn and understand new things.

Posts Related to Voracious

Source Information

Definition of voracious from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.