predator
/ˈprɛdətə
/noun
1An animal that naturally preys on others: wolves are major predators of small mammals...
- Common predators of house sparrows include cats and other mammalian predators, birds of prey, and owls.
- Bluntnose minnows serve an important role as prey for larger animals and as a predator on insect larvae.
- They are also preyed upon by mammalian predators such as cats, and by snakes such as boas and anacondas.
2A person who ruthlessly exploits others: a sexual predator...
- Women in those situations are particularly vulnerable to a predator and a manipulator like Ben.
- Psychologists have built up a detailed picture of how sexual predators operate on their child victims.
- It's the reality that I had to face 20 years ago that there were sexual predators and child molesters out there.
2.1A company that tries to take over another: a defensive move to prevent the business falling into the hands of an overseas predator...
- It is a decent management team and it might be in the predators' interests to keep the team sweet prior to a bidding war.
- That could make the business attractive to a larger predator who could integrate head office functions and justify a higher price.
- It still could attract interest from overseas predators but it is far more likely in the short term that Harley will be forced to fall on his sword.
Origin
1920s: from Latin praedator 'plunderer', from praedat- 'seized as plunder', from the verb praedari (see predation).