prey

prey
prey1 [ preı ] noun uncount **
1. ) an animal that is caught by another animal and eaten:
Spiders usually catch their prey by building webs.
=> BIRD OF PREY
2. ) someone that a criminal or dishonest person attacks, cheats, or harms: VICTIM:
a hired killer stalking his prey
easy prey: Homeless children were easy prey for drug dealers and pimps in the capital.
fall/be/become prey to
to be attacked, cheated, or harmed by someone bad:
The refugees fell prey to criminal gangs.
prey
prey 2 [ preı ] verb
prey on someone's mind
if something preys on your mind, you think and worry about it all the time:
The criticism preyed on my mind.
`prey ,on or prey upon phrasal verb transitive
1. ) prey on/upon something to hunt another creature in order to eat it
2. ) prey on/upon someone to harm someone who is weak or cannot defend themselves:
The gang has been preying on foreign tourists.

Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?
Synonyms:
, , , , , / , , , / , /


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Prey — ist der Name von Gemeinden in Frankreich Prey, im Département Eure Prey, im Département Vosges folgender Personen Adalbert Prey (1873–1949), österreichischer Geodät und Astronom Ferdinand Prey, Ehrenbürger von Wiesloch Hermann Prey (1929–1998),… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • prey´er — prey «pray», noun, verb. –n. 1. any animal or animals hunted or seized for food by another animal: »Mice and birds are the prey of cats. The relative number of predatory fish…increased significantly compared with their prey (F. S. Bodenheimer). 2 …   Useful english dictionary

  • Prey — Prey, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Preyed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Preying}.] [OF. preier, preer, L. praedari, fr. praeda. See {Prey}, n.] To take booty; to gather spoil; to ravage; to take food by violence. [1913 Webster] More pity that the eagle should be… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Prey — Prey, n. [OF. preie, F. proie, L. praeda, probably for praeheda. See {Prehensile}, and cf. {Depredate}, {Predatory}.] Anything, as goods, etc., taken or got by violence; anything taken by force from an enemy in war; spoil; booty; plunder. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Prey — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Prey puede referirse a Prey, comuna francesa en Eure; Prey, comuna francesa en Vosgos; Prey, un videojuego. Prey, una aplicación para rastrear computadores robados. Obtenido de Prey Categoría:… …   Wikipedia Español

  • PREY (C.) — PREY CLAUDE (1925 ) En fonction sans doute de sa très vaste culture littéraire et de son attachement passionné à la musique de Mozart, Claude Prey a orienté sa création vers la composition musicale liée à une recherche théâtrale. Il fait au… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Prey — может означать: Prey компьютерная игра; Prey студийный альбом шведской метал группы Tiamat, вышедший в 2003 году …   Википедия

  • prey on sb — prey on/upon sb/sth Phrasal Verb with prey( ► to harm somebody who is weaker than you are: »It is regrettable that such companies prey upon homeowners who are already experiencing financial difficulties …   Financial and business terms

  • prey on — (something) to kill an animal in order to eat it. Spiders prey on small flies and other insects. Seals often prey upon the same fish people are trying to catch. Usage notes: said about animals that kill other animals for food …   New idioms dictionary

  • prey\ on — • prey (up)on v 1. To habitually kill and eat; catch for food. Cats prey on mice. 2. To capture or take in spoils of war or robbery. Pirates preyed on American ships in the years just after the Revolutionary War. 3. To cheat; rob. Gangsters… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • prey — ► NOUN 1) an animal hunted and killed by another for food. 2) a person who is easily exploited or harmed. 3) a person vulnerable to distressing emotions. ► VERB (prey on/upon) 1) hunt and kill for food. 2) take advantage of; exploit …   English terms dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”