: 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
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Noun
The image also features a raven resting on her shoe and even more of them swarming around her.—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025 Your juvenile crow, however, might be a common raven.—Joan Morris, Mercury News, 2 June 2025
Adjective
As for her glam, the former Pussycat Dolls member styled her hair in a tight chignon with strands of her raven black tresses to frame her face.—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 22 Apr. 2025 Zegler’s hair was coifed by Clayton Hawkins, with wisps of her raven black tresses to frame her face.—Julia Teti, WWD, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for raven
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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