(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
1.
A creature’s ~ are the creatures that it hunts and eats in order to live.
Electric rays stun their ~ with huge electrical discharges...
These animals were the ~ of hyenas.
N-UNCOUNT-COLL: usu with poss
see also bird of ~
2.
A creature that ~s on other creatures lives by catching and eating them.
The larvae ~ upon small aphids.
= feed
VERB: V on/upon n
3.
You can refer to the people who someone tries to harm or trick as their ~.
Police officers lie in wait for the gangs who stalk their ~ at night...
N-UNCOUNT: usu with poss
4.
If someone ~s on other people, especially people who are unable to protect themselves, they take advantage of them or harm them in some way.
The survey claims loan companies ~ on weak families already in debt.
VERB: V on n disapproval
5.
If something ~s on your mind, you cannot stop thinking and worrying about it.
He had been unwise and it ~ed on his conscience.
= weigh
VERB: V on n