Meaning & use
raptor
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Meanings
nouncountable
A bird that hunts and eats other animals, such as an eagle, hawk, or owl.
Grammar: Countable: use 'a raptor' or 'raptors' for more than one.
Patterns
- a raptor swoops
- raptors hunt something
The park is home to several species of raptor, including hawks and owls.
A raptor circled high above the field, looking for mice.
Binoculars are useful for watching raptors from a distance.
nouncountableinformal
A dinosaur that walked on two legs and had sharp claws, especially one like Velociraptor.
Grammar: Countable; often used in the plural 'raptors' for the group.
Patterns
- a raptor attacks
- raptors lived
In the film, the raptors hunt in a coordinated pack.
Scientists study raptor fossils to understand how they moved.
The museum's new exhibit features a life-size model of a raptor.
Word forms
| plural | raptors |
|---|
Common combinations
- bird of prey
- The eagle is a powerful bird of prey.
- raptor species
- Several raptor species nest in these cliffs.
- raptor population
- The raptor population has declined due to habitat loss.
- raptor center
- The raptor center cares for injured birds.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bird of prey
- A more general term that includes all hunting birds; raptor is a more technical word often used by scientists and birdwatchers.
- predator
- Any animal that hunts others, not just birds; raptor is specific to birds (and informally to certain dinosaurs).
Word family
- raptorial adjective
- Relating to or characteristic of birds of prey, especially their claws.
Commonly confused: raptor or rapture? raptor or reptor?
raptor vs rapture
Rapture means a feeling of extreme happiness; raptor is a bird or dinosaur. They sound similar but are unrelated.
raptor vs reptor
Not a common English word; 'raptor' is the correct spelling for the bird or dinosaur.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'raptor' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A raptor is a bird of prey that hunts other animals, so chasing a mouse fits. It does not build nests in trees (some do, but that's not the defining action), and it is not a flower or an ocean swimmer.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “raptor”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.