raven

¹ American  

[rey-vuhn] / ˈreɪ vən /

noun

1. any of several large, corvine birds having lustrous, black plumage and a loud, harsh call, especially the common raven, Corvus corax, of both the New World and the Old World.

2. Raven, the divine culture hero and trickster of the North Pacific Coast Indians.

3. Astronomy. Raven, the constellation Corvus.

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adjective

1. lustrous black.

   raven locks of hair.

raven ² American  

[rav-uhn] / ˈræv ən /

Also ravin

verb (used without object)

1. to seek plunder or prey.

2. to eat or feed voraciously or greedily.

   to raven like an animal.

3. to have a ravenous appetite.

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verb (used with object)

1. to seize as spoil or prey.

2. to devour voraciously.

noun

1. rapine; robbery.

2. plunder or prey.

raven ¹ British  

/ ˈreɪvən /

noun

1. a large passerine bird, Corvus corax , having a large straight bill, long wedge-shaped tail, and black plumage: family Corvidae (crows). It has a hoarse croaking cry

2. 1. a shiny black colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      raven hair

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raven ² British  

/ ˈrævən /

verb

1. to seize or seek (plunder, prey, etc)

2. to eat (something) voraciously or greedily; be ravenous in eating

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Raven ³ British  

/ ˈreɪvən /

noun

1. a traditional trickster hero among the native peoples of the Canadian Pacific Northwest

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Other Word Forms

• ravener noun
• ravenlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of raven¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English hrǣfn, hrefn; cognate with German Rabe, Old Norse hrafn

Origin of raven²

First recorded in 1485–95; earlier ravine, from Middle French raviner, ultimately from Latin rapīna “plunder, rapine”; rapine

Example Sentences

Over the course of two-and-a-half years, researchers found only one clear example of a raven following a wolf for more than one kilometer or more than an hour.

From Science Daily • Mar. 19, 2026

They focused on winter, when ravens most often interact with wolves, recording raven locations every 30 minutes and wolf locations every hour.

From Science Daily • Mar. 19, 2026

A dead raven floated on the water’s surface.

From Salon • Dec. 4, 2025

NatureScot say they would be gathering more data on the need for greater control of raven numbers, but it would not t let the need for further surveys be a barrier to action.

From BBC • May 27, 2025

The raven ruffled its feathers and glared at Anya.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

Related Words

• bully
• devour
• exploit
• feed on
• fleece
• haunt
• intimidate
• oppress
• plunder
• take advantage of
• victimize