- 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)
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
- …
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- 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
See prey in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee prey in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishbe/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.
Check pronunciation:
prey