Prey Definition

prā

preyed, preying, preys

noun

preys

An animal hunted or killed for food by another animal.

Webster's New World

The collection of animals typically hunted and eaten by a predator.

The acoustic location of prey by barn owls.

American Heritage

A person or thing that falls victim to someone or something.

Webster's New World

Plunder; booty.

Webster's New World

One that is subjected to or afflicted with something.

Was prey to depression.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

verb

preyed, preying, preys

To hunt or kill other animals for food.

Webster's New World

To plunder; rob.

Webster's New World

To make profit from a victim as by swindling.

Webster's New World

To have a wearing or harmful influence; weigh heavily.

Webster's New World

To exert a baneful or injurious effect.

Remorse preyed on his mind.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Origin of Prey

Middle English, from Old French preie, one of the variants of proie, from Latin praeda. Compare predator.

From Wiktionary
Middle English preie from Old French from Latin praeda booty, prey ghend- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition