Meaning & use

raptor

noun·Academic

A bird of prey, such as an eagle, hawk, or falcon, that hunts other animals for food.

See it in a sentence

The raptor circled high above the field, watching for any movement in the grass below.

The museum's dinosaur exhibit featured a fast, sharp-clawed raptor known for hunting in packs.

A note on using this word

Raptor is also used informally for certain predatory dinosaurs, such as velociraptor, popularized by films and documentaries.

Words with a similar meaning

bird of prey

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