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

The 10-year project will add a new education pavilion, equine hospital, cancer center, spay-neuter clinic, raptor center and a primary care hospital — facilities that will allow the school to expand its class size from 600 to 800 students, UC Davis officials said. —Cathie Anderson, Sacbee.com, 20 Sep. 2025

Neither bird can fly, which wasn't an issue millions of years ago when their only predators were raptors that hunt from the sky. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 19 Sep. 2025

The video concluded with Sharon smiling for the camera while an owl was perched on her raptor glove. —Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 14 Sep. 2025

Another scene showed Sharon, in a white shirt with a black jacket and slacks, holding up her raptor glove as what appeared to be a white owl flew to it. —Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 13 Sep. 2025

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

Rhymes for raptor

• apter
• captor
• chapter
• adapter
• adaptor
• subchapter

Kids Definition

raptor

noun

rap·​tor ˈrap-tər 

: bird of prey

Etymology

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