Definition of "raven"

raven¹

/ˈɹeɪvən/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural ravens
1. (countable) Any of several, generally large and lustrous black species of birds in the genus Corvus, especially the common raven, Corvus corax.
  Quotations
  Some ſay that Rauens foſter forlorne children, / The whilſt their owne birds famiſh in their neſts: / Oh be to me though thy hard hart ſay no, / Nothing ſo kinde but ſomething pittiful.
  c. 1588–1593 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The Most Lamentable Romaine Tragedie of Titus Andronicus: […] (First Quarto), London: […] Iohn Danter, and are to be sold by Edward White & Thomas Millington, […], published 1594, [Act II, scene iii]
2. A jet-black colour.
  Quotations
  A lone man walks the shores of Nantucket; his noble form is slightly bent, and with the raven of his hair is blended the faintest tinge of gray, though he is evidently a man to whom the meridian of life is yet far in the distance […]
  1859, Ferna Vale, Natalie; or, A Gem Among the Sea-Weeds
adjective
not comparable
1. Of the color of the raven; jet-black

raven²

/ˈɹævən/

noun
uncountable
1. Rapine; rapacity.
2. Prey; plunder; food obtained by violence.
verb
third-person singular simple present ravens, present participle ravening, simple past and past participle ravened
1. (transitive, archaic) To obtain or seize by violence.
2. (transitive) To devour with great eagerness.
  Quotations
  I refer to the danger of keeping a dog of this nature and disposition in a bedroom, where it can spring out ravening on anyone who enters.
  1938, P.G. Woodhouse, The Code of the Woosters
3. (transitive) To prey on with rapacity.
4. (intransitive) To show rapacity; to be greedy (for something).
  Quotations
  […] because hogs are commonly rauening for their meat, more then other cattel, it is meet therefore to haue them ringed, or else they wil doe much hurt in digging and turning vp corne fieldes […]
  1587, Leonard Mascall, “The nature and qualities of hogges, and also the gouernement thereof”, in The First Booke of Cattell‎, London
  They passed along towards the great hall-door, where the winds howled and ravened for their prey […]
  1852, Elizabeth Gaskell, “The Old Nurse’s Story”, in The Old Nurse’s Story and Other Tales‎
  The Greek were-wolf is closely related to the vampire. The lycanthropist falls into a cataleptic trance, during which his soul leaves his body, enters that of a wolf and ravens for blood.
  1865, Sabine Baring-Gould, chapter 8, in The Book of Were-Wolves‎, London: Smith, Elder & Co., page 114
  On one side the great temple where you can gather the good harvest—on the other a dirty little scandal that you’ve nosed out to fling to paper scavengers who feed it to their readin’ millions ravening for pornographic dirt.
  1931, James B. Fagan, The Improper Duchess‎, London: Victor Gollancz, published 1932, act 3, page 237

Definition of "raven"

raven1

noun

Quotations

Quotations

adjective

raven2

noun

verb

Quotations

Quotations

raven¹

raven²