predator

American  

[pred-uh-ter, -tawr] / ˈprɛd ə tər, -ˌtɔr /

noun

1. Zoology. any organism that exists by preying upon other organisms.

   Cats are carnivorous predators.

2. a person or group that plunders, pillages, or robs, as in war.

   The Vikings were barbarian predators.

3. a person, group, or business that exploits, victimizes, or preys on others: corporate predators who go after smaller rivals.

   a sexual predator who targets children;

   corporate predators who go after smaller rivals.

4. an overbearing, greedy or selfish person.

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predator British  

/ ˈprɛdətə /

noun

1. any carnivorous animal

2. a predatory person or thing

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predator Scientific  

/ prĕd′ə-tər /

1. An animal that lives by capturing and eating other animals.

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Other Word Forms

• antipredator noun

Etymology

Origin of predator

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin praedātor “plunderer, pillager,” equivalent to praedā(rī) “to plunder, pillage” (derivative of praeda “booty, plunder”) + -tor, agent noun suffix; prey, -tor

Example Sentences

“They have a rare species of sea urchin that you find nowhere else in the Archipelago. The spines are a foot long, and they turn red in the presence of predators.”

From Literature

However, scientists still know very little about how these predators manage to catch prey in a marine environment.

From Science Daily

Maasai herders in Kenya and Tanzania are paid around $600 for each cow killed by predators, on the condition that no predators are killed in retaliation, according to conservationists.

From The Wall Street Journal

With them go their predators, the jaguars, ocelots and—yes—anacondas.

From The Wall Street Journal

While this is unexpected good news for these Arctic predators, the researchers think it is unlikely to last.

From BBC