a. (Zool.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the genus Carabus or family Carabidae. -- n. One of the Carabidae, a family of active insectivorous beetles. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a family of nocturnal, terrestrial insects consisting of the ground beetles, which feed chiefly on other insects.
Syn. -- family Carabidae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]