an animal that naturally preys on others 捕食其他动物的动物,食肉动物 wolves are major predators of small mammals. 狼是哺乳类小动物的主要捕食者。 ■(figurative)a rapacious, exploitative person or group (喻)掠夺者;掠夺成性者;损人利己者 predators prey on pensioners. 掠夺者诈取退休金领取者。 ■(figurative)a company that tries to take over another (喻)想兼并扩张的公司
语源
1920s: from Latin praedator 'plunderer', from praedat- 'seized as plunder', from the verb praedari (see predation)