prey
noun /preɪ/
/preɪ/
[uncountable, singular]Idioms - an animal, a bird, etc. that is hunted, killed and eaten by another
- The lion will often stalk its prey for hours.
- birds of prey (= birds that kill for food)
Wordfinder- chase
- falconry
- game
- hunt
- open season
- pack
- poach
- prey
- safari
- trail
Collocations The living worldThe living worldAnimals- animals mate/breed/reproduce/feed (on something)
- fish/amphibians swim/spawn (= lay eggs)
- birds fly/migrate/nest/sing
- insects crawl/fly/bite/sting
- insects/bees/locusts swarm
- bees collect/gather nectar/pollen
- spiders spin/weave a web
- snakes/lizards shed their skins
- bears/hedgehogs/frogs hibernate
- insect larvae grow/develop/pupate
- an egg/a chick/a larva hatches
- attract/find/choose a mate
- produce/release eggs/sperm
- lay/fertilize/incubate/hatch eggs
- inhabit a forest/a reef/the coast
- mark/enter/defend (a) territory
- stalk/hunt/capture/catch/kill prey
- trees/plants grow/bloom/blossom/flower
- a seed germinates/sprouts
- leaves/buds/roots/shoots appear/develop/form
- flower buds swell/open
- a fungus grows/spreads/colonizes something
- pollinate/fertilize a flower/plant
- produce/release/spread/disperse pollen/seeds/spores
- produce/bear fruit
- develop/grow/form roots/shoots/leaves
- provide/supply/absorb/extract/release nutrients
- perform/increase/reduce photosynthesis
- bacteria/microbes/viruses grow/spread/multiply
- bacteria/microbes live/thrive in/on something
- bacteria/microbes/viruses evolve/colonize something/cause disease
- bacteria break something down/convert something (into something)
- a virus enters/invades something/the body
- a virus mutates/evolves/replicates (itself)
- be infected with/contaminated with/exposed to a new strain of a virus/drug-resistant bacteria
- contain/carry/harbour bacteria/a virus
- kill/destroy/eliminate harmful/deadly bacteria
Extra ExamplesTopics Birdsc1, Animalsc1- The young deer are ideal prey for the leopard.
- They watched a hawk swoop down on its unsuspecting prey.
- a cat pouncing on its prey
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- easy
- helpless
- unsuspecting
- …
- chase
- circle
- hunt for
- …
- prey for
- prey to
- a beast of prey
- a bird of prey
- be prey to something
- …
- a person who is harmed or tricked by somebody, especially for dishonest purposes
- Elderly people are easy prey for dishonest salesmen.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- easy
- helpless
- unsuspecting
- …
- chase
- circle
- hunt for
- …
- prey for
- prey to
- a beast of prey
- a bird of prey
- be prey to something
- …
Word OriginMiddle English (also denoting plunder taken in war): the noun from Old French preie, from Latin praeda ‘booty’, the verb from Old French preier, based on Latin praedari ‘seize as plunder’, from praeda.
Idioms
be/fall prey to something (formal)
- (of an animal) to be killed and eaten by another animal or bird
- Many small birds and rodents fall prey to the domestic cat.
- (of a person) to be harmed or affected by something bad
- Since the attack, she had fallen prey to irrational fears.
- She knew she must not fall prey to his charm.
- The new government has fallen prey to corruption and fraud.