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Meaning of PREY

Pronunciation:  prey

WordNet Dictionary
 
 Definition: 
  1. [n]  animal hunted or caught for food
  2. [n]  a person who is the victim of ridicule or exploitation by some hostile person or influence; "he fell prey to muggers"; "everyone was fair game"
  3. [v]  prey on or hunt for; "These mammals predate certain eggs"
  4. [v]  profit from in an exploitatory manner; "He feeds on her insecurity"
 
 Websites: 
 
 Synonyms: fair game, feed, predate, quarry, quarry, raven, target
 
 See Also: animal, animate being, beast, brute, creature, exploit, fauna, forage, victim, work

 

 

Products Dictionary
 
 Definition: 

Prey
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Webster's 1913 Dictionary
 
 Definition: 
  1. \Prey\, n. [OF. preie, F. proie, L. praeda, probably for
    praeheda. See {Prehensile}, and cf. {Depredate},
    {Predatory}.]
    Anything, as goods, etc., taken or got by violence; anything
    taken by force from an enemy in war; spoil; booty; plunder.
          And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the
          spoil, unto Moses, and Eleazar the priest. --Num. xxxi.
                                                   12.
    2. That which is or may be seized by animals or birds to be
       devoured; hence, a person given up as a victim.
             The old lion perisheth for lack of prey. --Job iv.
                                                   ii.
             Already sees herself the monster's prey. --Dryden.
    3. The act of devouring other creatures; ravage.
             Hog in sloth, fox in stealth, . . . lion in prey.
                                                   --Shak.
    {Beast of prey}, a carnivorous animal; one that feeds on the
       flesh of other animals.
    
  2. \Prey\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Preyed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
    {Preying}.] [OF. preier, preer, L. praedari, fr. praeda. See
    {Prey}, n.]
    To take booty; to gather spoil; to ravage; to take food by
    violence.
          More pity that the eagle should be mewed, While kites
          and buzzards prey at liberty.            --Shak.
    {To prey on} or {upon}.
    (a) To take prey from; to despoil; to pillage; to rob.
        --Shak.
    (b) To seize as prey; to take for food by violence; to seize
        and devour. --Shak.
    (c) To wear away gradually; to cause to waste or pine away;
        as, the trouble preyed upon his mind. --Addison.
    
 

 

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