To swallow or eat up voraciously, as a beast of prey; to make a prey of, to prey upon.

to prey on, to prey upon. intransitive. Of an animal: to seize, kill, or hunt habitually as prey. Also in extended use. Also †to prey of.

intransitive. To eat voraciously; to feed hungrily or greedily; (also) to prey on or upon. Also figurative.

transitive. To prey upon, to make a prey of; to plunder, pillage. Obsolete (or nonce-wd)

transitive. To act as a predator of; to catch and eat (prey). Chiefly in passive.