Definition of "raven" in English

noun

1. (countable) Any of several, generally large and lustrous black species of birds in the genus Corvus, especially the common raven (Corvus corax).

2. A jet-black color.

adjective

1. Of the color of the raven; jet-black.

   • raven curls; raven darkness
   • She was a tall, sophisticated, raven-haired beauty.

noun

1. Rapine; rapacity.

2. Prey; plunder; food obtained by violence.

verb

1. (transitive; sometimes intransitive with "from", "away", etc; archaic) To obtain or seize by violence; to plunder.

   • Hee … sought to eat him up, and to raven all hee could get from him.
   • That they might not be disturbed whilst busie ravening after Booty.

2. (transitive, intransitive, sometimes with "up", "down", "in", etc) To devour with great eagerness; to feed (on something) hungrily or greedily.

   • A Lion new returnde from rauening pray [sic] […]
   • Clusters of grapes, the which they raven'd quick.

3. (transitive; intransitive with "on") To prey on with rapacity; to attack with violence in order to, or as if to, devour.

4. (intransitive) To show rapacity; to be greedy (for something).