- prey
- [[t]pre͟ɪ[/t]]
preys, preying, preyed1) N-UNCOUNT-COLL: usu with poss A creature's prey are the creatures that it hunts and eats in order to live.→ See also bird of prey
Electric rays stun their prey with huge electrical discharges...
These animals were the prey of hyenas.
2) VERB A creature that preys on other creatures lives by catching and eating them.[V on/upon n] The effect was to disrupt the food chain, starving many animals and those that preyed on them...
[V on/upon n] The larvae prey upon small aphids.
Syn:3) N-UNCOUNT: usu 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...
This burglar thought old people are easy prey.
4) 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.[V on n] Pam had never learned that there were men who preyed on young runaways...
[V on n] The survey claims loan companies prey on weak families already in debt.
5) VERB If something preys on your mind, you cannot stop thinking and worrying about it.[V on n] The absence of children at Christmas preyed on Liz's mind...
[V on n] It was a misunderstanding. Herr Kettner was unwise and it preyed on his conscience.
Syn:6) N-UNCOUNT: 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.
7) PHRASE: V 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.
English dictionary. 2008.
