Definition of raptor
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
[New Latin -raptor (as in velociraptor)]
: a usually small-to-medium-sized predatory dinosaur (such as a velociraptor or deinonychus)
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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The first known use of raptor was in 1873
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