prey

¹prey

noun \ˈprā\

plural prey also preys

Definition of PREY

1

archaic : spoil, booty

2

a : an animal taken by a predator as food b : one that is helpless or unable to resist attack : victim <was prey to his own appetites>

3

: the act or habit of preying

Examples of PREY

1. The lion stalked its prey.
2. The bird circled above looking for prey.
3. The seals are easy prey for sharks.
4. Too often elderly people are easy prey for swindlers and other criminals.

Origin of PREY

Middle English preie, from Anglo-French, from Latin praeda; akin to Latin prehendere to grasp, seize — more at get

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to PREY

Synonyms: chase, quarry

Antonyms: predator

Related Words: game; kill, victim; beast, brute, creature, critter; target

Near Antonyms: carnivore; chaser, hunter, pursuer; killer, murderer

see all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide

Other Zoology Terms

altruism, integument

Rhymes with PREY

a, ae, bay, bey, blae, brae, bray, chez, clay, Cray, day, dey, dray, eh, fay, fey, flay, fley, frae, fray, Frey, gay, Gay, gey, gley, gray, hay, he, hey, Hue, j, jay, Jay, k, kay, Kay, lay, lei, may, nay, né, née, neigh, Ney, pay, pe, play, pray, qua, quai, quay, Rae, ray, re, say, shay, slay, sleigh, spae, spay, Spey, splay, spray, stay, stray, sway, Tay, they, tray, trey, way, weigh, whey, yea