to hunt for food; to prey on
Meanings
2 senses · 10 examplesverb
to catch food for eating; to forage for prey
formalUsed primarily to describe the feeding behavior of wild animals, focusing on seeking and gathering food.
Wild animals often come out to hunt for food in the mountains and forests.
Nocturnal owls will go out to hunt field mice.
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Deep-sea fish use bioluminescence to attract prey and hunt it.
During dry seasons, lizards in the desert will hide in shaded areas to wait for hunting opportunities.
This pack of wolves will work together to hunt large prey.
verb
to prey on; to catch and eat other animals
technical, formalFocuses on the act of hunting and consuming other organisms as food, often used to describe predator-prey relationships in nature.
Frogs prey on insects.
Lions are one of the large felines best adapted to hunting on the African savanna.
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Sharks prey on small fish and seals in the ocean.
Spiders will trap insects in their webs before preying on them.
This deep-sea squid preys on prey much larger than itself.