cannibalize

Other spellings

• (UK) cannibalise

Word parts

cannibal + -ize

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /ˈkænɪbəlaɪz/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form cannibalize

Third-person singular cannibalizes

Past tense cannibalized

Past participle cannibalized

Present participle cannibalizing

1. (transitive) If an animal cannibalize, they eat another of their own species.

   The female black widow spider is known to cannibalize the male.

2. (transitive) (machinery) If you cannibalize a machine, you remove parts of it to use it in other similar machines.

Related words

• cannibal
• cannibalism
• cannibalization/cannibalisation