precocial

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/prɪˈkəʊʃəl/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(pri kō′shəl)


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
pre•co•cial  (pri kō′shəl),USA pronunciation adj. [Biol.]
  1. Developmental Biology(of an animal species) active and able to move freely from birth or hatching and requiring little parental care (opposed to altricial).
  • precoci(ous) + -al1 1870–75

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
precocial /prɪˈkəʊʃəl/ adj
  1. (of the young of some species of birds after hatching) covered with down, having open eyes, and capable of leaving the nest within a few days of hatching
 n
  1. a precocial bird

Compare altricialEtymology: 19th Century: see precocious
'precocial' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
altricial - juvenile - sand grouse

Forum discussions with the word(s) "precocial" in the title:


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