| 单词 | prey |
| 释义 | prey (preɪ ) Word forms: preys , preying , preyed 1. uncountable noun [with singular or plural verb, usually with poss] A creature's prey are the creatures that it hunts and eats in order to live. Electric rays stun their prey with huge electrical discharges. These animals were the prey of hyenas. [+ of] Synonyms: quarry, game, kill 2. See also bird of prey 3. verb A creature that preys on other creatures lives by catching and eating them. The effect was to disrupt the food chain, starving many animals and those that preyed on them. [VERB on/upon noun] The larvae prey upon small aphids. [VERB + on/upon] 4. uncountable noun [usually with poss] You can refer to the people who someone tries to harm or trick as their prey. Police officers lie in wait for the gangs who stalk their prey at night. 5. verb If someone preys on other people, especially people who are unable to protect themselves, they take advantage of them or harm them in some way. [disapproval] The survey claims loan companies prey on weak families already in debt. [VERB + on] 6. verb If something preys on your mind, you cannot stop thinking and worrying about it. The absence of children at Christmas preyed on Liz's mind. [VERB on noun] He had been unwise and it preyed on his conscience. [VERB + on] 7. uncountable noun [also a N, N to n] If someone is prey to something bad, they have a tendency to let themselves be affected by it. He was prey to a growing despair. You were both a prey to compulsions. 8. fall prey to something phrase [VERB inflects] To fall prey to something bad means to be taken over or affected by it. On the flight from Paris to Toulon, Mechiche fell prey to panic. Children in evacuation centres are falling prey to disease. Collocations: human prey On the way, however, the unit encounters a merciless alien hunter in search of human prey. The Sun The pythons did not simply strike because they were disturbed, but appeared to actively hunt human prey. Times, Sunday Times Soon, however, both are hunting human prey. The Sun Real canines are used in most scenes, and they haven't been persuaded to pull scary faces while gazing at their human prey. Times, Sunday Times Were humans prey for the bears, or predators? Smithsonian The possible causes of the common seal decline - algae, ill-health, changing diet, changes in prey population, predation, competition - are all related to change. Times, Sunday Times This will cause the predator population to dip, decreasing the predation pressure on the prey population. Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0 The prey population eventually recovers, starting a new cycle. Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0 When prey (plants) are numerous their predators (herbivores) increase in numbers, reducing the prey population, which in turn causes predator number to decline. Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0 With little or no cover, bass can devastate the prey population and starve or be stunted. Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0 The sea monsters are seen reaching speeds of 37mph and leaping 6ft out of the water to catch their unsuspecting prey. The Sun The reefs are inhabited by colour-changing octopuses and squid ready to ambush unsuspecting prey. Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0 Seldom active, they lie in wait to pounce on an unsuspecting prey. Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0 It was probably an ambush predator that would pounce on unsuspecting prey with its crushing talons. Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0 A vulchling roosts in trees or on ledges and swoops down upon unsuspecting prey, attacking with extended talons. Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0 Translations: Chinese: 猎物, 捕食 Japanese: 餌食, えじきにする |
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