prey

prey¹ [preı] n

[Date: 1200-1300; : Old French; Origin: preie, from Latin praeda 'something seized']

1.) [singular,U]

an animal, bird etc that is hunted and eaten by another animal

= ↑predator

▪ a tiger stalking its prey

2.) bird/beast of prey

a bird or animal which lives by killing and eating other animals

3.) be/fall prey to sb/sth

if someone falls prey to someone or something bad, they are harmed or affected by them

▪ Street children in this part of the world often fall prey to drug dealers.

▪ They are prey to nameless fears.

4.) easy prey

a) someone who can easily be deceived or harmed

▪ He was easy prey for the two conmen who called at his house.

b) an animal which is easily caught by another

▪ Fish at the surface of the water are easy prey for eagles.

prey ²

prey² v

prey on / [prey on sb/sth] phr v

1.) if an animal or bird preys on another animal or bird, it hunts and eats it

→↑predator

▪ Cats prey on birds and mice.

2.) to try to deceive or harm weaker people

▪ religious cults that specialize in preying on young people

3.) prey on sb's mind

to make someone worry continuously

▪ The accident has been preying on my mind all week.