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 notesIn plain EnglishEither a bird of prey or (informally) a small predatory dinosaur.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
bird of prey / raptor
raptor claws
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Word forms
- Plural
- raptors
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."
Synonyms
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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.
