raptor

noun

rap·​tor ˈrap-tər 

-ˌtȯr

1

: a carnivorous medium- to large-sized bird (such as a hawk, eagle, owl, or vulture) that has a hooked beak and large sharp talons and that feeds wholly or chiefly on meat taken by hunting or on carrion : bird of prey

2

: a usually small-to-medium-sized predatory dinosaur (such as a velociraptor or deinonychus)

Examples of raptor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One day, Ms Morris asks the Head Curator why the zoo didn’t have any raptors in their collection. —Grrlscientist, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025

The following day, Fairbanks Airport Police released a video of the raptor returning to the wild. —Brooke Curto, Fox News, 16 Jan. 2025

The raptor was believed to have been shot Dec. 24 to Dec. 26 near Fisherman Island on Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho Fish and Game said in a Jan. 9 news release. —Helena Wegner, Idaho Statesman, 10 Jan. 2025

But, sitting calmly on the branch, the raptor looks unaffected by the roller’s aerial scare tactics. —Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

(sense 1) after New Latin Raptores, former order name, going back to Latin, plural of raptor "plunderer, robber, a beast or bird of prey," from rapere "to seize and carry off, take away by force" + -tor, agent suffix; (sense 2) borrowed from New Latin -raptor (as in velociraptor) — more at rapid entry 1

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

raptor

noun

rap·​tor ˈrap-tər 

: bird of prey

Etymology

Latin raptor "plunderer," from rapere "to seize"