vulture
nounverbadjectiveattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈvʌltʃə//
- United States//ˈvʌlt͡ʃɚ//
Any of several carrion-eating birds of the families Accipitridae and Cathartidae.
noun
- 1
Any of several carrion-eating birds of the families Accipitridae and Cathartidae.
The outer third of the wing of a vulture consists of the wing tips. The inner two-thirds of the wing are cambered (when the wing is extended), and are concerned with lifting effort in unsoarable air and with lifting and tractive effort in soarable air.
In clusters on the plain, like cowlless monks at matins, sat the vultures that had settled on the corpse of the hyena impaled by the female rhino […]
- 2
figurativeA person who profits from the suffering of others.
Within ten minutes of the accident, the vultures appeared and were organizing lawsuits.
Etymology
Borrowed into Middle English from Anglo-Norman vultur, from Old French voutoir, voutre, from Latin vultur, voltur. Displaced native Old English ūf.
verb
- 1
figurativeTo circle around one's target as if one were a vulture.
Rudy vultured when asking the girl out.
adjective
- 1
obsoleteravenous; rapacious
Whose vultur thought doth pitch the price so hie, That she will draw his lips rich treasure drie.
Forms
- plural
- vultures
- past tense
- vultured
- past participle
- vultured
- present participle
- vulturing
- third person singular
- vultures
vulture · Any of several carrion-eating birds of the families Accipitridae and Cathartidae.
w · The twenty-third letter of the English alphabet, called…W · The twenty-third letter of the English alphabet, called…W. · Wednesday.