raptor

American  

[rap-ter, -tawr] / ˈræp tər, -tɔr /

noun

1. a raptorial bird.

2. Informal. a velociraptor or other small dinosaur with similar characteristics.

---

raptor British  

/ ˈræptə /

noun

1. another name for bird of prey

2. informal a carnivorous bipedal dinosaur of the late Cretaceous period

---

raptor Scientific  

/ răp′tər /

1. A bird of prey, such as a hawk, eagle, or owl.

2. Any of various mostly small, slender, carnivorous dinosaurs of the Cretaceous Period. Raptors had hind legs that were adapted for leaping and large, curved claws used for grasping and tearing at prey. Raptors were probably related to birds, and some even had feathers.

---

Etymology

Origin of raptor

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English raptour “ravener; plunderer; bird of prey,” from Latin raptor “robber, ravager,” equivalent to rap(ere) “to seize by force, plunder” + -tor agent suffix; rape ¹ -tor

Compare meaning

How does raptor compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• velociraptor vs. raptor

Example Sentences

Bald Eagles, like many other raptors, must navigate a wide range of hazards in a human-dominated world.

From Science Daily

The death, sadly, is not atypical for large raptors, such as bald and golden eagles.

From Los Angeles Times

"The mortality for raptors in general is really high during the first years of their life," she says.

From BBC

“The birds that would have a safe haven in that spring or be hidden away from raptors and predators overhead don’t have that opportunity anymore,” McQuilkin said.

From Los Angeles Times

The Harris’s hawks, also known as bay-winged hawks, are large, lanky raptors that breed in the southwestern U.S. and throughout South America.

From Los Angeles Times