prowl
[ proul ]
/ praʊl /
verb (used without object)
to rove or go about stealthily, as in search of prey, something to steal, etc.
verb (used with object)
to rove over or through in search of what may be found: The cat prowled the alleys in search of food.
noun
act of prowling.
Nearby words
Idioms
on the prowl, in the act of prowling; searching stealthily: The cat is on the prowl for mice.
Origin of prowl
1350–1400; Middle English prollen < ?
Related formsprowl·ing·ly, adverbun·prowl·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for prowling
British Dictionary definitions for prowling
prowl
/ (praʊl) /
verb
(when intr, often foll by around or about) to move stealthily around (a place) as if in search of prey or plunder
noun
the act of prowling
on the prowl
- moving around stealthily
- zealously pursuing members of the opposite sex
Derived Formsprowler, noun
Word Origin for prowl
C14 prollen, of unknown origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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