vulture

[ vuhl-cher ]

noun

1. any of several large, primarily carrion-eating Old World birds of prey of the family Accipitridae, often having a naked head and less powerful feet than those of the related hawks and eagles.
2. any of several superficially similar New World birds of the family Cathartidae, as the turkey vulture.
3. a person or thing that preys, especially greedily or unscrupulously:

   That vulture would sell out his best friend.

vulture

/ ˈvʌltʃə /

noun

1. any of various very large diurnal birds of prey of the genera Neophron, Gyps, Gypaetus, etc, of Africa, Asia, and warm parts of Europe, typically having broad wings and soaring flight and feeding on carrion: family Accipitridae (hawks) See also griffon 1 lammergeier
2. any similar bird of the family Cathartidae of North, Central, and South America See also condor turkey buzzard
3. a person or thing that preys greedily and ruthlessly on others, esp the helpless

Derived Forms

• ˈvulture-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• vulture·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vulture¹

1325–75; Middle English < Latin vultur

Word History and Origins

Origin of vulture¹

C14: from Old French voltour, from Latin vultur; perhaps related to Latin vellere to pluck, tear

Example Sentences

As scavengers, vultures always look for the next carcass.

From Science Daily

Each year, starting around Thanksgiving, culture vultures get to unwrap an early present: a raft of films, TV shows, concerts and more that fill the calendar through the end of the season.

From Los Angeles Times

Dead animals littered the side of the road; deer, raccoons, something that looked like a purple jackal, a Chupacabra or two, what looked like a werewolf, and at least one low-flying turkey vulture.

From Salon

"You're out there alone in this crazy, crazy world, where there are a lot of vultures. It's tough to navigate."

From BBC

Both the civilians and the officials were drawn to the area by vultures that were circulating.

From BBC