: a large, glossy-black bird (Corvus corax) that is widely distributed in northern parts of the northern hemisphere but now rare in most areas of the eastern and central U.S. and that differs from the closely related common crow chiefly in its larger size and wedge-shaped tail and in having the feathers of the throat narrow and pointed resulting in a shaggy appearance
also: any of various usually large and glossy black, corvine birds
Adjective
had dark eyes and raven hair Verb
the rat ravened the poisoned bait just as we had hoped
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Pliny said ravens eat chameleons, but then ingest bay leaves to counter the lizards’ toxicity.—Adrienne Mayor, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2024 Simply not randomly shooting ravens, hawks and eagles, along with banning the harmful pesticide DDT, allowed many species, like eagles, cormorants and osprey, to return from the brink.—John Myers, Twin Cities, 26 May 2024
Adjective
Created by celebrity colorist Matt Rez, honeyed ribbon highlights like these are very popular right now–just see Rihanna, who also recently swapped her raven colour for a similar tone.—Hannah Coates, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2024 The work in question was Nocturne in Black and Gold—The Falling Rocket, a diffuse rendering in jade greens and raven blacks, depicting London’s Cremorne Gardens.—Angelica Aboulhosn, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Dec. 2023 See all Example Sentences for raven
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'raven.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Old English hræfn; akin to Old High German hraban raven, Latin corvus, Greek korax
Note:
It is pointed out by the Oxford English Dictionary, third edition, that given the Middle English attestation of the derivatives ravener "plunderer, predatory animal" and ravening "rapacious," this verb may also date to Middle English. Compare Anglo-French raviner "to steal, take away," apparently attested once.
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
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