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noun

raptor

RAP-tuh

Raptor (noun) means a bird that hunts other animals, such as an eagle or hawk. Example: “The raptor circled high above the field, watching for mice.”

noun
1
A bird that hunts other animals, such as an eagle or hawk.
"The raptor circled high above the field, watching for mice."
2
In casual and pop-culture usage, one of the small, clawed, meat-eating dinosaurs (dromaeosaurs) made famous by films like Jurassic Park.
"The kids ran around the museum pretending to be raptors."

How to use raptor

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a bird of prey or (informally) a small predatory dinosaur.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
bird of prey / raptor raptor claws

Word forms

raptors plural, raptors plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ circled high above the field, watching for mice.

Etymology

From Latin raptor, "plunderer" or "one who seizes" — the same root as "rapture" and "rapacious."

Origin: Latin

bird of prey raptorial bird

Related words

Rhymes for raptor

See all rhymes for raptor →

Frequently asked questions

What does “raptor” mean?

The word “raptor” means a bird that hunts other animals, such as an eagle or hawk. In plain terms, either a bird of prey or (informally) a small predatory dinosaur.

How do you pronounce “raptor”?

“Raptor” is pronounced RAP-tuh (/ˈɹæptɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “raptor” in a sentence?

Here is “raptor” used in a sentence: “The raptor circled high above the field, watching for mice.”

What part of speech is “raptor”?

“Raptor” is a noun.

Where does the word “raptor” come from?

The word “raptor” comes from Latin. From Latin raptor, "plunderer" or "one who seizes" — the same root as "rapture" and "rapacious.".

How many meanings does “raptor” have?

“Raptor” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a bird that hunts other animals, such as an eagle or hawk.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial