raven

verb

rav·​en ˈra-vən 

ravened; ravening ˈra-və-niŋ 

ˈrav-niŋ

intransitive verb

1

: to feed greedily

2

: to prowl for food : prey

3

: plunder

transitive verb

1

: to devour greedily

2

: despoil

… men … raven the earth, destroying its resources.

—New Yorker

ravener

ˈra-və-nər 

ˈrav-nər

noun

Synonyms of raven

• devour
• wolf
• inhale
• gulp
• scoff

Examples of raven in a Sentence

the rat ravened the poisoned bait just as we had hoped

Word History

Etymology

probably verbal derivative of ravin

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

1530, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing raven

• night raven

Rhymes for raven

• craven
• flavin
• graven
• haven
• maven
• pavan
• shaven
• engraven
• unshaven
• riboflavin

Kids Definition

raven

1 of 2 noun

ra·​ven ˈrā-vən 

: a bird of Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and America that has glossy black feathers and is larger than the related crow

raven

2 of 2 adjective

: shiny and black like a raven's feathers

raven hair