raptor

/ˈræptər/
noun
  1. A bird of prey, such as a hawk, eagle, or owl, that hunts and feeds on other animals.
    • Birdwatchers gathered to see the rare raptor nesting on the cliff.
    • Many raptors have sharp talons and hooked beaks for catching prey.
    • The raptor soared high above the field, scanning for movement.
  2. A type of small, fast, meat-eating dinosaur from the Cretaceous period, such as the velociraptor.
    • The museum displayed a skeleton of a raptor with a large claw on each foot.
    • Scientists believe raptors were covered in feathers and were related to modern birds.
    • In the movie, the raptors worked together to hunt their prey.
What does "raptor" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean