predator
nouncommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈpɹɛd.ə.tə//
- United States//ˈpɹɛd.ə.tɚ//
Any animal or other organism that hunts and kills other nonplant organisms (their prey), primarily for food.
noun
- 1
Any animal or other organism that hunts and kills other nonplant organisms (their prey), primarily for food.
Hives should be positioned, oriented and protected to avoid predators and ensure survival in the meliponary. A study (pers. obs.) of predators shows that the main culprits in a Malaysian meliponary are frogs and lizards.
So if you're the only thing worth eating in the middle of the ocean, the predator that grabs you will probably have gotten there by a Levy walk.
- 2
informalSomeone who attacks and plunders for gain.
- 3
informalA sexual predator.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin praedātor, from praedor (“loot, pillage”), from praeda (“booty, spoils, prey”).
Forms
- plural
- predators
predator · Any animal or other organism that hunts and kills other nonplant organisms (their prey), primarily for food.
predecessor · One who precedes; one who has preceded another in any state,…predicament · A definite class, state or condition.predict · To make a prediction: to forecast, foretell, or estimate a…