raptor

Everyday

1. A raptor is a bird of prey: a bird that hunts other animals with strong feet, sharp curved claws (talons) and a hooked beak, such as an eagle, hawk, falcon or owl. tree →
2. (informal) A raptor is a short name for some meat-eating dinosaurs, especially velociraptor and its relatives (dromaeosaurs). tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on food chains and birds, raptors are top predators; owls are night raptors, eagles and hawks hunt by day. Raptor centres look after hurt birds of prey. In dinosaur topics and films like «Jurassic Park», «raptors» are fast clever hunters, though real ones were smaller and had feathers. Phrases: birds of prey, raptor centre, raptor talons.

Examples

• Eagles, hawks and owls are all raptors. tree →
• The raptor grabbed the mouse with its sharp talons. tree →
• We visited a raptor centre and held a barn owl. tree →
• Raptors have amazing eyesight for spotting prey. tree →
• Peregrine falcons are the fastest raptors when they dive. tree →
• In the film, the raptors opened the kitchen door. tree →
• Real raptor dinosaurs were covered in feathers. tree →
• The raptor circled high above the field. tree →

Note

Countable: a raptor, raptors. From Latin «raptor», meaning one who seizes or robs. Trap: film raptors are much bigger than real velociraptors, which were about the size of a turkey. Owls are raptors too, even though they hunt at night.