prey
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1prey
noun \ˈprā\ plural prey also preys
Definition of PREY
2
a : an animal taken by a predator as food b : one that is helpless or unable to resist attack : victim <was prey to his own appetites>
3
: the act or habit of preying
See Examples of PREY
- The lion stalked its prey.
- The bird circled above looking for prey.
- The seals are easy prey for sharks.
- Too often elderly people are easy prey for swindlers and other criminals.
Origin of PREY
Middle English preie, from Anglo-French, from Latin praeda; akin to Latin prehendere to grasp, seize — more at get
First Known Use: 13th century
Other Zoology Terms
Rhymes with PREY
a, ae, bay, bey, blae, brae, bray, chez, clay, Cray, day, dey, dray, eh, fay, fey, flay, fley, frae, fray, Frey, gay, Gay, gey, gley, gray, hay, he, hey, Hue, j, jay, Jay, k, kay, Kay, lay, lei, may, nay, né, née, neigh, Ney, pay, pe, play, pray, qua, quai, quay, Rae, ray, re, say, shay, slay, sleigh, spae, spay, Spey, splay, spray, stay, stray, sway, Tay, they, tray, trey, way, weigh, whey, yea
2prey
intransitive verbpreyedprey·ing
Definition of PREY
1
: to make raids for the sake of booty
2
a : to seize and devour prey b : to commit violence or robbery or fraud
3
: to have an injurious, destructive, or wasting effect <worry preyed upon his mind>
— prey·er noun
Origin of PREY
Middle English, from Anglo-French preier, from Latin praedari, from praeda
First Known Use: 14th century
Other Zoology Terms
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