Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

altricial

/ælˈtɹɪʃəl/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 1.22 in modern English

Syllables: al-tri-cial
IPA: /ælˈtɹɪʃəl/

11

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Helpless at birth (of young animals); or having young which are helpless at birth.

noun

Such an animal.

Example Sentences

"Altricial young are typical among carnivores, which might be expected to be hampered in their hunting behaviour if the pregnant mother has to carry its young for a long period."
"First, humans are altricial, with immature newborns and a long childhood."
"First, compared to other species, babies are altricial, meaning that they are weak, undermuscled, fat, and uncoordinated (sorry, babies, but it's true)."

Etymology

From New Latin Altrices (a former division of birds), plural of altrīx, the feminine of altor (“nourisher”), from alere (“to nourish”).

Word Breakdown

Root: Altrices

Inflected Forms

more altricial (comparative) most altricial (superlative) altricials (plural)

Derived Forms

altricially semialtricial subaltricial superaltricial

Frequently Paired Words

precocial

Synonyms

altricious nidicolous

Antonyms

precocial

Rhymes With

official initial artificial judicial beneficial unofficial superficial sacrificial interstitial prejudicial extrajudicial fishel

Questions

How do you pronounce altricial?: The recorded pronunciation is /ælˈtɹɪʃəl/.
What does altricial mean?: Helpless at birth (of young animals); or having young which are helpless at birth.
Where does altricial come from?: From New Latin Altrices (a former division of birds), plural of altrīx, the feminine of altor (“nourisher”), from alere (“to nourish”).

How to pronounce altricial

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “altricial”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ælˈtɹɪʃəl/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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