vulture

plural vultures

1. Any of several carrion-eating birds of the families Accipitridae and Cathartidae.

   In clusters on the plain, like cowlless monks at matins, sat the vultures that had settled on the corpse of the hyena impaled by the female rhino […]

   1982, Michael Bishop, No enemy but time

   1 more example

   The outer third of the wing of a vulture consists of the wing tips. The inner two-thirds of the wing are cambered (when the wing is extended), and are concerned with lifting effort in unsoarable air and with lifting and tractive effort in soarable air.

   1912, Flight

2. colloquialfigurativelyA person who profits from the suffering of others.

   Within ten minutes of the accident, the vultures appeared and were organizing lawsuits.

   Synonyms: ambulance chaser, vampire

present singular third person vultures · participle present vulturing · participle past vultured · past vultured

1. colloquialfigurativelyTo circle around one's target as if one were a vulture.

   Rudy vultured when asking the girl out.

1. obsoleteravenous; rapacious

   Whose vultur thought doth pitch the price so hie, That she will draw his lips rich treasure drie.

   1593, [William Shakespeare], Venus and Adonis, London: […] Richard Field, […], →OCLC