Search Result for "rapacious": 
Wordnet 3.0

ADJECTIVE (3)

1. living by preying on other animals especially by catching living prey;
- Example: "a predatory bird"
- Example: "the rapacious wolf"
- Example: "raptorial birds"
- Example: "ravening wolves"
- Example: "a vulturine taste for offal"
[syn: predatory, rapacious, raptorial, ravening, vulturine, vulturous]

2. excessively greedy and grasping;
- Example: "a rapacious divorcee on the prowl"
- Example: "ravening creditors"
- Example: "paying taxes to voracious governments"
[syn: rapacious, ravening, voracious]

3. devouring or craving food in great quantities;
- Example: "edacious vultures"
- Example: "a rapacious appetite"
- Example: "ravenous as wolves"
- Example: "voracious sharks"
[syn: edacious, esurient, rapacious, ravening, ravenous, voracious, wolfish]



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Rapacious \Ra*pa"cious\ (r[.a]*p[=a]"sh[u^]s), a. [L. rapax,
   -acis, from rapere to seize and carry off, to snatch away.
   See Rapid.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. Given to plunder; disposed or accustomed to seize by
      violence; seizing by force. " The downfall of the
      rapacious and licentious Knights Templar." --Motley.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Accustomed to seize food; subsisting on prey, or animals
      seized by violence; as, a tiger is a rapacious animal; a
      rapacious bird.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Avaricious; grasping; extortionate; also, greedy;
      ravenous; voracious; as, rapacious usurers; a rapacious
      appetite.
      [1913 Webster]

            [Thy Lord] redeem thee quite from Death's rapacious
            claim                                 --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   Syn: Greedy; grasping; ravenous; voracious.
        [1913 Webster] -- Ra*pa"cious*ly, adv. --
        Ra*pa"cious*ness, n.
        [1913 Webster]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

rapacious
    adj 1: living by preying on other animals especially by catching
           living prey; "a predatory bird"; "the rapacious wolf";
           "raptorial birds"; "ravening wolves"; "a vulturine taste
           for offal" [syn: predatory, rapacious, raptorial,
           ravening, vulturine, vulturous]
    2: excessively greedy and grasping; "a rapacious divorcee on the
       prowl"; "ravening creditors"; "paying taxes to voracious
       governments" [syn: rapacious, ravening, voracious]
    3: devouring or craving food in great quantities; "edacious
       vultures"; "a rapacious appetite"; "ravenous as wolves";
       "voracious sharks" [syn: edacious, esurient, rapacious,
       ravening, ravenous, voracious, wolfish]