vulture

American  

[vuhl-cher] / ˈvʌl tʃər /

noun

1. 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.

2. any of several superficially similar New World birds of the family Cathartidae, as the turkey vulture.

3. a person or thing that preys, especially greedily or unscrupulously.

   That vulture would sell out his best friend.

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vulture British  

/ ˈvʌltʃə /

noun

1. 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 lammergeier

2. any similar bird of the family Cathartidae of North, Central, and South America See also condor turkey buzzard

3. a person or thing that preys greedily and ruthlessly on others, esp the helpless

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Other Word Forms

• vulture-like adjective
• vulturelike adjective

Etymology

Origin of vulture

1325–75; Middle English < Latin vultur

Compare meaning

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

• condor vs. vulture
• vulture vs. turkey vulture

Example Sentences

Any major decision that fell outside of Brontë’s story and character arcs was bound to be picked apart by the vultures.

From Salon

He places the stones on Tom’s lap, Ms. Kessler tells us, “and walks slowly around the room, waving a vulture feather in the air.”

From The Wall Street Journal

More than a hundred bird species, including ducks, geese, terns, ibis, herons, eagles and vultures, had been recorded in the area, alongside monkeys and small mammals.

From Barron's

‘I changed my will to deter vultures’: I’m in my 60s and disabled.

From MarketWatch

That MP said: "He's got vultures left, right, up, down, in front and behind. He needs to man up and show he's happy to see off anyone."

From BBC