1. (n.)anteater any of several tropical New Worldedentate mammals of the family Myrmecophagidae, having a long snout, a sticky extensile tongue, and strong claws, and feeding on ants and termites.
2. anteater any of various other, unrelated mammals having similar adaptations for feeding on ants and termites, as the aardvark, echidna, numbat, and pangolin.
Etymology: (1755–65)
Definition of 'anteater'
Princeton's WordNet
1. (noun)pangolin, scaly anteater, anteater toothless mammal of southern Africa and Asia having a body covered with horny scales and a long snout for feeding on ants and termites
4. (noun)numbat, banded anteater, anteater, Myrmecobius fasciatus smallAustralianmarsupial having long snout and strong claws for feeding on termites; nearly extinct
5. (noun)echidna, spiny anteater, anteater a burrowing monotrememammal covered with spines and having a long snout and claws for hunting ants and termites; native to New Guinea
6. (noun)echidna, spiny anteater, anteater a burrowing monotrememammal covered with spines and having a long snout and claws for hunting ants and termites; native to Australia
Definitions of anteater 
