raven

1
[ rey-vuhn ]
See synonyms for raven on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. any of several large, corvine birds having lustrous, black plumage and a loud, harsh call, especially the common raven ,Corvus corax, of both the New World and the Old World.

  2. Raven, the divine culture hero and trickster of the North Pacific Coast Indians.

  1. Raven, Astronomy. the constellation Corvus.

adjective
  1. lustrous black: raven locks of hair.

Origin of raven

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English hrǣfn, hrefn; cognate with German Rabe, Old Norse hrafn

Other words from raven

  • ra·ven·like, adjective

Other definitions for raven (2 of 2)

raven2
[ rav-uhn ]

verb (used without object)
  1. to seek plunder or prey.

  2. to eat or feed voraciously or greedily: to raven like an animal.

  1. to have a ravenous appetite.

verb (used with object)
  1. to seize as spoil or prey.

  2. to devour voraciously.

noun
  1. rapine; robbery.

  2. plunder or prey.

Origin of raven

2
First recorded in 1485–95; earlier ravine, from Middle French raviner, ultimately from Latin rapīna “plunder, rapine”; see rapine
  • Also rav·in [rav-in] /ˈræv ɪn/ .

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use raven in a sentence

  • There in the breach It ravened for me, thrust Itself toward me, pressed against the thin veil of separation between us.

    The Thing from the Lake | Eleanor M. Ingram
  • Away to his right, down a narrow pitch-black tunnel, were the walls of the hypocausts behind which fires roared and ravened.

    Nicanor - Teller of Tales | C. Bryson Taylor
  • To right and left he smote with the short sword, making a havoc and sparing none, for the sword ravened in his hand.

    The World's Desire | H. Rider Haggard and Andrew Lang
  • Now the fury of the people rose against me, and they ravened round the palace like lions of the desert, roaring for my blood.

    Moon of Israel | H. Rider Haggard
  • That night, as they ravened over their meager meal, Knute came to them, hesitatingly.

British Dictionary definitions for raven (1 of 3)

raven1

/ (ˈreɪvən) /


noun
  1. a large passerine bird, Corvus corax, having a large straight bill, long wedge-shaped tail, and black plumage: family Corvidae (crows). It has a hoarse croaking cry

    • a shiny black colour

    • (as adjective): raven hair

Origin of raven

1
Old English hrǣfn; related to Old High German hraban, Old Norse hrafn

British Dictionary definitions for raven (2 of 3)

raven2

/ (ˈrævən) /


verb
  1. to seize or seek (plunder, prey, etc)

  2. to eat (something) voraciously or greedily; be ravenous in eating

Origin of raven

2
C15: from Old French raviner to attack impetuously; see ravenous

Derived forms of raven

  • ravener, noun

British Dictionary definitions for Raven (3 of 3)

Raven

/ (ˈreɪvən) /


noun
  1. a traditional trickster hero among the native peoples of the Canadian Pacific Northwest

Origin of Raven

3
from raven 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012