Zoology. any organism that exists by preying upon other organisms.
2.
a predatory person.
Origin
1920-25; < Latinpraedātor plunderer, equivalent to praedā(rī) to plunder (derivative of praedaprey) + -tor-tor
Related forms
antipredator, noun
Examples from the web for predator
I'm wondering: did a predator disturb the nest?
Yet herding has become unprofitable, despite big state subsidies and the payment of compensation for animals lost to predators.
Some thrive only on offshore islands where predators are few.
Thus begins a complex and delicate dance between predator and prey.
It is believed to be the biggest toothed predator in the world.
Large predators gain tremendous benefits from being big.
The wild buffalo, which grazes on grass, faces few predators.
Giant jellies have no natural predators, and aren't even eaten by humans.
Their only predator is an occasional cheetah.
The region's largest predator, the tiger, has plenty of room to roam.
British Dictionary definitions for predator
predator
/ˈprɛdətə/
noun
1.
any carnivorous animal
2.
a predatory person or thing
Word Origin and History for predator
n.
1862, from Latin praedator "plunderer," from praedari "to rob" (see predation). Originally Predatores (Swainson, 1840) used of insects that ate other insects.
predator in Science
predator
(prěd'ə-tər) An animal that lives by capturing and eating other animals.