geophagia

English

Etymology

geo- +‎ -phagia

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d͡ʒiəˈfeɪdʒə/, /d͡ʒiəˈfeɪdʒiə/

Noun

geophagia (uncountable)

1. Consumption of clay, chalk or dirt.
   • 2006 May 27, NewScientist, page 54, column 1:

     In fact, expectant mothers in many sub-Saharan African cultures routinely eat soils (a practice called geophagia).

Synonyms

• pica

Related terms

• chthonophagia, chthonophagy
• geophagy