/rap tawr"ee euhl, -tohr"-/ , adj.
1. preying upon other animals; predatory.
2. adapted for seizing prey, as the bill or claws of a bird.
3. belonging or pertaining to the Raptores, a former order in which the falconiform and strigiform birds were erroneously grouped together.
[ 1815-25; raptor- (s. of raptor RAPTOR) + -IAL ]