prey

1 syllable

Quick answer

As a noun, prey means that which is or may be seized by animals or birds to be devoured. As a verb, it means act as a predator.

Meanings of prey

11 meanings

That which is or may be seized by animals or birds to be devoured
A person or thing given up as a victim.
A living thing that is eaten by another living thing.
“The rabbit was eaten by the coyote, so the rabbit is the coyote's prey.”
The victim of a disease.
A person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influenceperson
“he fell prey to muggers”
“everyone was fair game”
“the target of a manhunt”
Similar: quarry, target, fair game
Animal hunted or caught for foodanimal
Similar: quarry

Older and rare meanings (2)

archaicAnything, such as goods, etc., taken or got by violence; something taken by force from an enemy in war
archaicThe act of devouring other creatures; ravage.

To act as a predator.
Profit from in an exploitatory manner
“He feeds on her insecurity”
Similar: feed
Prey on or hunt for
“These mammals predate certain eggs”
Similar: raven, predate

Meanings from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).