prēˈdāshən, prəˈd- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Latin praedation-, praedatio, from praedatus, (past participle of praedari to plunder) + -ion-, -io -ion — more at prey
1. : the act of preying or plundering : depredation , despoilment , rapacity
the enlightened monarchs … were not averse to an occasional war of predation — Morris Watnick
2. : a mode of life in which food is primarily obtained by killing and consuming animals
predation reduces the size of the prey population, which responds by more rapid growth — Scientific Monthly
— compare mutualism , parasitism