al·tri·cial ( l-tr sh  l)adj. Helpless, naked, and blind when hatched: altricial birds. [From Latin altr  x, altrc-, feminine of altor, nourisher, from alere, to nourish; see al-2 in Indo-European roots.] |
altricial [ælˈtrɪʃəl]
adj
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) (of the young of some species of birds after hatching) naked, blind, and dependent on the parents for food
n
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) an altricial bird, such as a pigeon Compare precocial
[from New Latin altriciālis, from Latin altrix a nurse, from alere to nourish]
| altricial (l-trshl) Born or hatched in a helpless condition requiring prolonged parental care, as by being naked, blind, or unable to move about. Nesting birds, monotremes, marsupials, and carnivores have altricial young. Compare precocial. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Adj. | 1. |  altricial - (of hatchlings) naked and blind and dependent on parents for foodprecocial - (of hatchlings) covered with down and having eyes open; capable of leaving the nest within a few days |
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