Predator

Definition

Predator refers to an organism that primarily obtains food by the killing and consuming of other organisms.

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈprɛdətər/
• Respelling: PREH-duh-tuhr (with "PREH" as in "pretzel," "duh" as in "duh," and "tuhr" as in "further" but without the 'f')

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈprɛdətə/
• Respelling: PREH-duh-tuh (with "PREH" as in "pretzel," "duh" as in "duh," and "tuh" like a softer 'ta')

In both dialects, "predator" is pronounced with the primary stress on the first syllable. The pronunciation shows typical variations in vowel sounds and the ending sound between American and British English.

Etymology

The term "predator" is derived from the Latin word "praedator", meaning "plunderer", which itself comes from the verb "praedari", meaning "to seize, to plunder".

Derivatives

• Predatory
• Predation
• Predatorily
• Predatoriness
• Predator-prey

Synonyms

• Hunter
• Carnivore
• Raptor

Antonyms

• Prey
• Herbivore
• Victim

Usage

"Predator" is commonly used in ecology and biology to describe organisms that hunt and consume other organisms for sustenance. Outside of these fields, it can also refer to a person or group that ruthlessly exploits others.

Related Terms

• Apex predator
• Predator-prey dynamics
• Predatory pricing
• Predatory lending
• Predatory behavior

Detailed Definition

Noun

• An organism that lives by preying on other organisms, especially by hunting and consuming them.
• Example: "The lion is a top predator in the African savannah."

• A person or entity that exploits others, typically in a ruthless or unscrupulous manner.
• Example: "He was known as a financial predator, taking advantage of those in desperate situations."

• In the context of technology, a drone or aircraft designed for reconnaissance and attack missions.
• Example: "The Predator drone was used for surveillance in the conflict zone."