transcription, транскрипция: [ preɪ ]
( preys, preying, preyed)
1.
A creature’s prey are the creatures that it hunts and eats in order to live.
Electric rays stun their prey with huge electrical discharges...
These animals were the prey of hyenas.
N-UNCOUNT-COLL : usu with poss
see also bird of prey
2.
A creature that preys on other creatures lives by catching and eating them.
The larvae prey 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 prey .
Police officers lie in wait for the gangs who stalk their prey at night...
N-UNCOUNT : usu with poss
4.
If someone preys 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 prey on weak families already in debt.
VERB : V on n [ disapproval ]
5.
If something preys on your mind, you cannot stop thinking and worrying about it.
He had been unwise and it preyed on his conscience.
= weigh
VERB : V on n