Meanings
raptor1
plural raptors · alternative obsolete rapter · alternative obsolete rare raptour
- A bird of prey.
- obsoleteOne who ravishes or plunders.
raptor2
plural raptors
- informalbiologyOne of the dromaeosaurs, a family of carnivorous dinosaurs having tearing claws on the hind legs.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounany of numerous carnivorous birds that hunt and kill other animals
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
raptor · noun
- Latinraptor“kidnapper, thief”
- Middle Englishraptour
- Englishraptor
From Middle English raptour, from Latin raptor (“kidnapper, thief”).
More words from Middle English, Latin
Full word history & related roots →raptor · noun
Popularized (and possibly coined) in 1990 by Michael Crichton in Jurassic Park; clipping of velociraptor, ultimately of the same etymology as above.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Polish dromeozaur
- dromeozaurdromaeosaur
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with raptor
All rhymes →Anagrams
Cite this entry
raptor. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/raptor
“raptor.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/raptor. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “raptor,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/raptor.
Source: raptor on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.