vulture
[vuhl-cher]
- any of several large, primarily carrion-eating Old World birds of prey of the family Accipitridae, often having a naked head and less powerful feet than those of the related hawks and eagles.
- any of several superficially similar New World birds of the family Cathartidae, as the turkey vulture.
- a person or thing that preys, especially greedily or unscrupulously: That vulture would sell out his best friend.
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Origin of vulture
1325–75; Middle English < Latin vultur
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for vulture
Contemporary Examples
Vulture wrote a helpful-ish explainer about how to make sure you see it.
On Buzzfeed, Vulture, Twitter, and in our hearts, these people are celebrated.
'Nick & Knight': Nick Carter and Jordan Knight Are Your New Boy Band Power CoupleKevin Fallon
September 4, 2014
Vulture, too, noticed her “effortless, self-deprecating charm.”
Specifically, it happened on October 15, when the series aired its fifth episode, “The Vulture.”
Vulture Shia LaBeouf responds to Jim Carrey's Golden Globes attack.
Historical Examples
The difference only between the eagle and the vulture,—serenity or restlessness.
The Black TulipAlexandre Dumas (Pere)
The vulture was drawing closer and closer to its prey—was almost upon it.
Say, rather, if you have the vulture's appetite, you must go where there is carrion!
The Fortunes Of GlencoreCharles James Lever
James B., like a vulture, had been hoping for a place on the crew for many a day.
Janet of the DunesHarriet T. Comstock
But you must remember his business was a vulture's business, and something of it was in his soul.
vulture
- any of various very large diurnal birds of prey of the genera Neophron, Gyps, Gypaetus, etc, of Africa, Asia, and warm parts of Europe, typically having broad wings and soaring flight and feeding on carrion: family Accipitridae (hawks)See also griffon 1 (def. 2), lammergeier
- any similar bird of the family Cathartidae of North, Central, and South AmericaSee also condor, turkey buzzard
- a person or thing that preys greedily and ruthlessly on others, esp the helpless
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Word Origin
C14: from Old French voltour, from Latin vultur; perhaps related to Latin vellere to pluck, tear
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for vulture
n.
late 14c., from Anglo-French vultur, Old French voultour, from Latin vultur, earlier voltur, perhaps related to vellere "to pluck, to tear." Figurative sense is recorded from 1580s.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper