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vultures

 - 3 dictionary results

vul⋅ture

  [vuhl-cher]
Use vultures in a Sentence
–noun
1. any of several large, primarily carrion-eating Old World birds of prey of the family Accipitridae, often having a naked head and less powerful feet than those of the related hawks and eagles.
2. any of several superficially similar New World birds of the family Cathartidae, as the turkey vulture.
3. a person or thing that preys, esp. greedily or unscrupulously: That vulture would sell out his best friend.
Origin:
1325–75; ME < L vultur

Related forms:
vul⋅ture⋅like, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To vultures
vul·ture   (vŭl'chər)   
n.  

  1. Any of various large birds of prey of the New World family Cathartidae or of the Old World family Accipitridae, characteristically having dark plumage and a featherless head and neck and generally feeding on carrion.

  2. A person of a rapacious, predatory, or profiteering nature.


[Middle English, from Old French voltour, from Latin vultur.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

vulture 
c.1374, from Anglo-Fr. vultur, O.Fr. voultour, from L. vultur, earlier voltur, perhaps related to vellere "to pluck, to tear." Fig. sense is recorded from 1582.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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