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单词 geophagy
释义

Definition of geophagy in English:

geophagy

noun dʒɪˈɒfədʒidʒiˈɑfədʒi
mass noun
  • The practice in some tribal societies of eating earth.

    Example sentencesExamples
    • The following quotation serves both to illustrate his main point, that geophagy has been widespread, and to exhibit the pleasant style in which he wrote.
    • Mineral supplementation is usually postulated as the purpose of this behavior, and most geophagy by G. agassizii is on calcium-rich substrates by adult females.
    • Howler monkeys are well known to engage in geophagy, or earth eating, though the reason they do it remains unclear.
    • It may explain, for example, occurrence of geophagy in parrots, which consume large quantities of secondary metabolites in fruits and seeds.
    • For many years, parrots and macaws had been observed on the river banks in the Amazonian forests of Peru biting off and swallowing chunks of orange clay - a practice known as geophagy.

Origin

Mid 19th century: from geo- 'earth' + Greek phagia 'eating, feeding' (from phagein 'eat').

 
 

Definition of geophagy in US English:

geophagy

nounjēˈäfəjēdʒiˈɑfədʒi
  • The practice of eating earth, especially chalk or clay in famine-stricken regions.

    Example sentencesExamples
    • Howler monkeys are well known to engage in geophagy, or earth eating, though the reason they do it remains unclear.
    • The following quotation serves both to illustrate his main point, that geophagy has been widespread, and to exhibit the pleasant style in which he wrote.
    • It may explain, for example, occurrence of geophagy in parrots, which consume large quantities of secondary metabolites in fruits and seeds.
    • Mineral supplementation is usually postulated as the purpose of this behavior, and most geophagy by G. agassizii is on calcium-rich substrates by adult females.
    • For many years, parrots and macaws had been observed on the river banks in the Amazonian forests of Peru biting off and swallowing chunks of orange clay - a practice known as geophagy.

Origin

Mid 19th century: from geo- ‘earth’ + Greek phagia ‘eating, feeding’ (from phagein ‘eat’).

 
 
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更新时间:2024/12/23 13:48:59