prey1 nounprey2 verb
preyprey1 /preɪ/ noun 
WORD ORIGINprey1
Origin:
1200-1300 Old French preie, from Latin praeda ‘something seized’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Snakes track their prey by its scent.
- It is hardly surprising that in such environments, adolescents fall prey to peer pressure.
- Many birds of prey regurgitate pellets which contain the indigestible remains of their prey, including much of the bone.
- Men prowled the motel like packs of wolves searching out easy prey.
- Snakes sometimes caught their prey here by dropping from above.
- The toothed whales have a set of teeth which they use to grasp large and quick-moving prey, mainly squid or fish.
- These refugees fell prey to marauding gangs, even to troopers, or to one another.
- They become a prey to nameless and often unspoken fears.
- Thirdly, the species composition of the prey animals may be characteristic of particular predator types.
WORD SETS
aardvark, nounadder, nounAfghan, nounalley cat, nounalligator, nounalpaca, nounAlsatian, nounamphibian, nounamphibious, adjectiveangora, nounanimal, nounanteater, nounantelope, nounanthropoid, adjectiveantler, nounape, nounappaloosa, nounarachnid, nounarmadillo, nounasp, nounass, nounbaa, verbbaboon, nounbaby, nounbadger, nounbantam, nounbark, verbbark, nounbarnacle, nounbasset, nounbat, nounbay, nounbay, verbbay, adjectivebeagle, nounbear, nounbeast, nounbeast of burden, nounbeaver, nounbellow, verbbellow, nounbelly, nounbig cat, nounbig game, nounbighorn sheep, nounbilly goat, nounbiped, nounbison, nounbitch, nounbivalve, nounbleat, verbbloodhound, nounbloodstream, nounblow-hole, nounboa, nounboar, nounbobcat, nounbovine, adjectivebow-wow, nounboxer, nounbrainwave, nounbrindled, adjectivebristle, verbbronc, nounbronco, nounbrontosaurus, nounbrush, nounbuck, nounbuffalo, nounbull, nounbulldog, nounbullfrog, nounbullock, nounbull terrier, nounburro, nounburrow, nouncalf, nouncall, nouncalve, verbcamel, nouncanine, adjectivecanine, nouncarapace, nouncarcass, nouncaribou, nouncarnivore, nouncarthorse, nouncat, nouncattle, nouncaudal, adjectivecayman, nouncetacean, nounchameleon, nounchamois, nouncheetah, nounchestnut, nounchickadee, nounchicken, nounchihuahua, nounchimpanzee, nounchinchilla, nounchipmunk, nounchow, nounclaw, nouncloven hoof, nouncoat, nouncob, nouncobra, nouncocker spaniel, nouncold-blooded, adjectivecollie, nouncolouring, nouncolt, nouncomb, nounconnective tissue, nouncony, nouncoon, nouncopperhead, nouncorgi, nouncougar, nouncourtship, nouncow, nouncoyote, nouncoypu, nouncrest, nouncrocodile, nouncrop, verbcrustacean, nouncry, nouncub, nouncur, noundachshund, nounDalmatian, noundeer, nounden, noundentine, noundingo, noundinosaur, noundoe, noundog, noundolphin, noundomesticate, verbdonkey, noundormouse, noundorsal, adjectivedromedary, nounduckbilled platypus, nounearthworm, nounelephant, nounelk, nounentrails, nounermine, nounewe, nounexcreta, nounexcretion, nounfallopian tube, nounfallow deer, nounfang, nounfauna, nounfawn, nounfeed, nounfeeler, nounfeline, adjectivefeline, nounfemale, adjectivefemale, nounferal, adjectiveferret, nounfetlock, nounfieldmouse, nounfilly, nounfin, nounfleece, nounflipper, nounflying fox, nounfoal, nounfoal, verbfoetus, nounforefoot, nounforeleg, nounfox, nounfoxhound, nounfox terrier, nounFriesian, nounfrog, nounfrogspawn, nounfruit bat, nounfur, nounfurry, adjectivegarter snake, noungazelle, noungecko, noungeese, gelding, noungerbil, nounGerman shepherd, noungestation, noungiant panda, noungibbon, noungiraffe, noungnu, noungoat, noungolden retriever, noungopher, noungorilla, noungregarious, adjectivegreyhound, noungroundhog, nounground squirrel, noungrunt, verbguinea pig, nounhack, nounhackles, nounhairless, adjectivehamster, nounhare, nounhart, nounhaunch, nounhedgehog, nounheifer, nounhen, nounherbivore, nounherd, nounhermit crab, nounhibernate, verbhind, adjectivehind, nounhindquarters, nounhippo, nounhippopotamus, nounhock, nounhog, nounhoof, nounhorned, adjectivehorse, nounhound, nounhowl, verbhump, nounhusky, nounhyaena, nounhybrid, nounhyena, nounibex, nouniguana, nounimpala, nouninbred, adjectiveinbreeding, nouninsectivore, nouninterbreed, verbinvertebrate, nounjackal, nounjackrabbit, nounjaguar, nounjellyfish, nounJersey, nounkangaroo, nounkid, nounkoala, nounkookaburra, nounLabrador, nounlair, nounlamb, nounlemming, nounleopard, nounlion, nounlioness, nounlitter, nounlitter, verblizard, nounllama, nounlonghorn, nounlugworm, nounlynx, nounmale, nounmamba, nounmammal, nounmammary, adjectivemammoth, nounmandible, nounmandrill, nounmane, nounman-eater, nounmare, nounmarmoset, nounmarsupial, nounmarten, nounmastitis, nounmate, nounmate, verbmating, nounmaw, nounmenagerie, nounmew, verbmiaow, verbmice, nounmigrant, nounmilk, verbmimic, verbmimic, nounmink, nounmole, nounmollusc, nounmongoose, nounmongrel, nounmonkey, nounmoo, verbmoose, nounmoult, verbmountain goat, nounmountain lion, nounmouse, nounmule, nounmuskrat, nounmussel, nounmustang, nounmutt, nounmuzzle, nounnag, nounnanny goat, nounnative, adjectivenative, nounnest, nounnewt, nounnocturnal, adjectiveocelot, nounoctopus, nounoffspring, nounoink, interjectionokapi, nounOld English sheepdog, nounomnivore, nounomnivorous, adjectiveopossum, nounorangutang, nounotter, nounox, nounpachyderm, nounpack, nounpad, nounpair, nounpanda, nounpanther, nounparasite, nounparasitic, adjectivepaw, nounpaw, verbpeccary, nounpedigree, adjectivepeke, nounPekinese, nounpelt, nounPersian cat, nounpest, nounpheasant, nounpiebald, adjectivepied, adjectivepig, nounpiggy, nounpiglet, nounpincer, nounpine marten, nounpinto, nounpit bull terrier, nounpit pony, nounplankton, nounplate, nounplatypus, nounpointer, nounpolar bear, nounpolecat, nounpolyp, nounpony, nounpooch, nounpoodle, nounporcupine, nounporker, nounporpoise, nounPortuguese man-of-war, nounpossum, nounpouch, nounprairie dog, nounprance, verbpredation, nounpredator, nounpredatory, adjectiveprehensile, adjectiveprey, nounprickle, nounpride, nounprimate, nounproboscis, nounprocreate, verbprowl, verbpterodactyl, nounpuffin, nounpug, nounpullet, nounpuma, nounpup, nounpurebred, adjectivepurr, verbpussy, nounpython, nounquack, verbquadruped, nounquill, nounrabbit, nounrabbit warren, nounrabid, adjectiveraccoon, nounracoon, nounram, nounrat, nounrattler, nounrattlesnake, nounravening, adjectivereindeer, nounreptile, nounretract, verbretriever, nounrhesus monkey, nounrhino, nounrhinoceros, nounroan, nounrodent, nounroe deer, nounrottweiler, nounruminant, nounruminate, verbrump, nounrunt, nounrut, nounsable, nounsac, nounsalamander, nounsausage dog, nounscavenge, verbschool, nounscorpion, nounseal, nounsea lion, nounseashell, nounsea urchin, nounsemen, nounserpent, nounsetter, nounsex, verbshed, verbsheep, nounsheepdog, nounShetland pony, nounshire horse, nounshrew, nounshrimp, nounSiamese cat, nounsilkworm, nounsimian, adjectivesire, nounskin, nounskunk, nounsloth, nounslug, nounsnail, nounsnake, nounsnakebite, nounsnarl, verbsniffer dog, nounsnout, nounsocial, adjectivesow, nounspaniel, nounspawn, verbspawn, nounsperm whale, nounsponge, nounspoor, nounspore, nounspringbok, nounsquid, nounsquirrel, nounstag, nounstallion, nounstarfish, nounSt Bernard, nounsteed, nounsteer, nounsting, nounstinger, nounstoat, nounstomach, nounstray, adjectivestray, nounstud, nounsucker, nounsuckle, verbsuckling, nounswine, nountadpole, nountail, nountame, adjectivetame, verbtapeworm, nountapir, nounteat, nountentacle, nounterrapin, nounterrier, nounterritorial, adjectiveterritory, nountiger, nountigress, nountoad, nountom, nountomcat, nountooth, nountortoise, nountortoiseshell, nountrumpet, verbtrunk, nountufted, adjectiveturtle, nountusk, nountyrannosaurus, nounudder, nounuterus, nounvampire bat, nounvent, nounvermin, nounvertebrate, nounvicuña, nounviper, nounvivarium, nounvixen, nounvole, nounwag, verbwallaby, nounwallow, verbwalrus, nounwarm-blooded, adjectivewarren, nounwarthog, nounwater buffalo, nounwater rat, nounwater vole, nounweasel, nounweevil, nounwhale, nounwhelk, nounwhelp, nounwhelp, verbwhinny, verbwhippet, nounwhisker, nounwild boar, nounwildcat, nounwildebeest, nounwildfowl, nounwinkle, nounwithers, nounwolf, nounwolfhound, nounwombat, nounwool, nounyak, nounyap, verbyap, nounyearling, nounyelp, nounYorkshire terrier, nounyoung, nounzebra, nounzoologist, nounzoology, nounzygote, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
Tourists are easy prey for thieves.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
(=that hunts and eats small animals)· A single bird of prey hovered overhead.
Tourists are easy prey for thieves.· Like a wolf pack scenting easy prey, they dismounted and spread out.· Men prowled the motel like packs of wolves searching out easy prey.· More rarely, I watched them diving in the sea for sea urchins or other easy prey.· We were barely moving through the water, an easy prey.· The dams also render the animals easy prey for hunters and trap them when the water is drained for irrigation.· Three groups are easy prey to the underclass's recruiting sergeant.· It is easy prey - I've caught them myself.· As a result, his party may look battered, easy prey for the Democrats.
VERB· One other interesting example of feeding technology is the use of bait to catch prey.· Snakes sometimes caught their prey here by dropping from above.· All poisonous amphibia use their toxins as a means of self-defence and not to catch prey.· The carnivorous digestive system would be useless without the means of catching prey.· Foxes and other hunting animals need to know how far to pounce to catch their prey.· By catching your prey off guard, you are in control of the situation, at least initially.· They can also catch kinds of prey that they could not catch by themselves, such as buffalo.· The king crabs have a nearly circular carapace, beneath which powerful legs helped the animal to swim and catch prey.
· The truth is that real man-eaters, those tigers that deliberately and consistently hunt human prey, are extremely rare.· Cu Sith usually moved in complete silence, though would bark loudly three times when hunting his prey.· The hedgerows and pasture where the owls hunt their prey are disappearing as farmers create bigger fields for intensive arable farming.· A pride of lions hunting down a prey animal, such as a zebra, is one of nature's more awesome spectacles.
· Males are usually most involved in attacking predators and may collaborate to kill snakes as dangerous prey.· The octopus has a poison glad that it uses for killing its prey.· Because of the risk of injury and the need to kill prey quickly, predators usually predate animals smaller than themselves.· These two lizards use their venom to kill their prey, which comprises small mammals such as mice and birds.· Some animals, such as venomous snakes and spiders, inject venoms in order to immobilise and kill their prey.· The octopus kills its prey, mainly small crabs, by biting them and injecting highly toxic saliva into the wound.· Snake venoms have different effects, some simply weakening or disorienting, others paralysing or killing the prey.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1[singular, uncountable] an animal, bird etc that is hunted and eaten by another animal OPP predator: - But Men persecuted us and other birds of prey like us were poisoned, trapped and shot.
- In fact, the only bird of prey I ever saw hovering over the park was a kestrel.
- Many birds of prey regurgitate pellets which contain the indigestible remains of their prey, including much of the bone.
- Meanwhile, the larger birds of prey were tucking into things like mice, rats, chicks and rabbits.
- Most of Britain's birds of prey are only now recovering from this long persecution.
- On 24 January he identified six new species of birds of prey - two of which came from the Galapagos.
- The diurnal birds of prey and the mammalian predators consistently have the highest rates of mandibular and maxillary breakage.
- You will have to pass beasts, fierce beasts of prey, and they are all that you will see.
- After a convincing win in game 1 Kasparov fell prey to overconfidence, losing games 4 and 5.
- All these animals, and others, had fallen prey to the apprentice hunters.
- It really seems as if some drivers fall prey to a death wish when freezing fog descends.
- Now, once again, the thin reed of refugee protection has fallen prey to the winds of political expediency.
- The magnificent castle was doomed to fall prey to the hand of desolation.
- The older trees grow spindly and, their immune systems weakened, fall prey to infestation of beetles and disease.
- These refugees fell prey to marauding gangs, even to troopers, or to one another.
- With aid supplies almost always out of reach, the boys became weak, and stragglers fell prey to wild animals.
- It is easy prey - I've caught them myself.
- Like a wolf pack scenting easy prey, they dismounted and spread out.
- Men prowled the motel like packs of wolves searching out easy prey.
- More rarely, I watched them diving in the sea for sea urchins or other easy prey.
- The dams also render the animals easy prey for hunters and trap them when the water is drained for irrigation.
- Then, as the softies were driven extinct, Harrington followed them, having no easy prey left.
- Three groups are easy prey to the underclass's recruiting sergeant.
- We were barely moving through the water, an easy prey.
- A number of woodcutters and honey-hunters have fallen victim to Sunderbans tigers.
- All these animals, and others, had fallen prey to the apprentice hunters.
- But he suddenly fell victim to his own pride and courage.
- Even Jim Harrick fell victim to the mood.
- It really seems as if some drivers fall prey to a death wish when freezing fog descends.
- Surely Cynthia didn't fall victim to the same fear?
- This way, Tucson can avoid falling prey to wildcat subdivisions on its fringes.
- You have to assume that Mobs will occasionally fall prey to animosity come what may.
- But his main preoccupation was with the unfinished Requiem, which had begun to prey on his mind.
- Important items which are left have a habit of preying on the mind.
- It began to prey on my mind so much that I went to the casualty department of Charing Cross Hospital.
- It was Tatiana preying on his mind.
a tiger stalking its prey2bird/beast of prey a bird or animal which lives by killing and eating other animals3be/fall prey to somebody/something if someone falls prey to someone or something bad, they are harmed or affected by them: Street children in this part of the world often fall prey to drug dealers. They are prey to nameless fears.4easy prey a)someone who can easily be deceived or harmed: He was easy prey for the two conmen who called at his house. b)an animal which is easily caught by another: Fish at the surface of the water are easy prey for eagles.prey1 nounprey2 verb
preyprey2 verb VERB TABLE
prey
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | prey |
| he, she, it | preys | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | preyed |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have preyed |
| he, she, it | has preyed | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had preyed |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will prey |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have preyed |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am preying |
| he, she, it | is preying | |
| you, we, they | are preying | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was preying |
| you, we, they | were preying | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been preying |
| he, she, it | has been preying | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been preying |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be preying |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been preying |
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- But his main preoccupation was with the unfinished Requiem, which had begun to prey on his mind.
- Consequently, the larger creatures that prey on them, the raptors, are fleeing starvation too.
- Ron Hunt said police have a responsibility to let parents know where those who might prey on children live.
- So, too, were the spiders that prey on them.
- You never were, although the slum people were complaining that a monster was preying on them.
Longman Language Activatorto make someone feel worried
· The changes in the Earth's climate began to worry some scientists.· "Why didn't you tell me?" "I didn't want to worry you."it worries somebody that · Doesn't it worry you that Stephen spends so much time away from home?what worries somebody is · What worries me is the difference in age between Rosie and her boyfriend.· One thing that worried me was that information had been leaked to the press.
if a problem troubles you, it makes you feel worried because you do not know what to do about it: · You must talk to your daughter and find out what's troubling her.· The incident troubled me -- it wasn't like Sarah to be so secretive.be troubled by something: · She is troubled by the fact that her son already shows signs of inheriting his father's mental problems.
if someone else's problems, health, safety etc concern you, you worry about them because you think they are important, even when they may not affect you personally: · Kate's behaviour at school is starting to concern her parents.it concerns somebody that: · It concerns me that some tutors are meeting with students outside college hours.what concerns somebody is: · What concerns me most is that despite pay increases, production has not improved.
if something bothers you, it slightly worries you - use this especially about problems that do not seem serious: · The only thing that bothers me is how I'm going to get from the station to the farm.· You shouldn't let little things like that bother you.what bothers somebody is: · What bothers me is that you didn't feel you could talk to me or your father about it.
also give somebody cause for concern if something that is happening causes concern or is a cause for concern , it makes someone, especially someone in an official position, feel worried, because it is unsatisfactory or possibly dangerous - used especially in official situations: · We have to inform you that your son's behaviour has been causing concern for some time now.· Two dozen cases of water poisoning in the space of a week certainly is a cause for concern, and we shall be taking action.· The Secretary General said that the recent developments are giving him cause for concern.cause somebody concern: · Your husband has almost recovered -- the only thing that's still causing us concern is his high blood pressure.cause concern among: · The decision has caused concern among human rights groups.
if a problem or something bad that has happened preys on your mind , it worries you continuously even though you do not want to think about it: · It was starting to prey on my mind so much that I went to the hospital.· The old woman's warning preyed on Mary's mind as she continued her journey.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Tourists are easy prey for thieves.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
(=that hunts and eats small animals)· A single bird of prey hovered overhead.
Tourists are easy prey for thieves.· Obviously the night-flying insects that they prey on must find their way about somehow.
NOUN· Important items which are left have a habit of preying on the mind.· It began to prey on my mind so much that I went to the casualty department of Charing Cross Hospital.· It was Tatiana preying on his mind.· But his main preoccupation was with the unfinished Requiem, which had begun to prey on his mind.
VERB· Now, once again, the thin reed of refugee protection has fallen prey to the winds of political expediency.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
prey on somebody/something phrasal verb1if an animal or bird preys on another animal or bird, it hunts and eats it: - But his main preoccupation was with the unfinished Requiem, which had begun to prey on his mind.
- Important items which are left have a habit of preying on the mind.
- It began to prey on my mind so much that I went to the casualty department of Charing Cross Hospital.
- It was Tatiana preying on his mind.
- A number of woodcutters and honey-hunters have fallen victim to Sunderbans tigers.
- All these animals, and others, had fallen prey to the apprentice hunters.
- But he suddenly fell victim to his own pride and courage.
- Even Jim Harrick fell victim to the mood.
- It really seems as if some drivers fall prey to a death wish when freezing fog descends.
- Surely Cynthia didn't fall victim to the same fear?
- This way, Tucson can avoid falling prey to wildcat subdivisions on its fringes.
- You have to assume that Mobs will occasionally fall prey to animosity come what may.
- But his main preoccupation was with the unfinished Requiem, which had begun to prey on his mind.
- Important items which are left have a habit of preying on the mind.
- It began to prey on my mind so much that I went to the casualty department of Charing Cross Hospital.
- It was Tatiana preying on his mind.
Cats prey on birds and mice.2to try to deceive or harm weaker people: religious cults that specialize in preying on young people3prey on somebody’s mind to make someone worry continuously: The accident has been preying on my mind all week.