raptor

noun

rap·​tor ˈrap-tər 

-ˌtȯr

1

: a carnivorous medium- to large-sized bird (such as a hawk, eagle, owl, or vulture) that has a hooked beak and large sharp talons and that feeds wholly or chiefly on meat taken by hunting or on carrion : bird of prey

2

: a usually small-to-medium-sized predatory dinosaur (such as a velociraptor or deinonychus)

Examples of raptor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When pesticides drove the North American peregrine falcon to near-extinction in the 1960s, Tom Cade, a Cornell professor and director of raptor research at the Lab of Ornithology, set up a massive captive-breeding project, producing several thousand young falcons and releasing them into the wild. —Tim Gallagher, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2024

Vultures are large, daytime (diurnal) raptors that primarily feed on the decaying flesh of dead animals, known as carrion. —Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2024

The freeing occurred at the center where the raptors have been recovering for at least a month. —Erika I. Ritchie, Orange County Register, 21 Oct. 2024

During the day, don’t miss the annual hawk watch—the return of the migrating raptors—which runs through November 30. —Stephanie Vermillion, Outside Online, 8 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

(sense 1) after New Latin Raptores, former order name, going back to Latin, plural of raptor "plunderer, robber, a beast or bird of prey," from rapere "to seize and carry off, take away by force" + -tor, agent suffix; (sense 2) borrowed from New Latin -raptor (as in velociraptor) — more at rapid entry 1

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

raptor

noun

rap·​tor ˈrap-tər 

: bird of prey

Etymology

Latin raptor "plunderer," from rapere "to seize"