Definition: rapacious

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7 

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, raptorial, ravening,
             vulturine, vulturous]
     2: excessively greedy and grasping; "a rapacious divorcee on
        the prowl"; "ravening creditors"; "paying taxes to
        voracious governments" [syn: ravening, voracious]
     3: devouring or craving food in great quantities; "edacious
        vultures"; "a rapacious appetite"; "ravenous as wolves";
        "voracious sharks" [syn: edacious, esurient, ravening,
         ravenous, voracious, wolfish]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) 

Rapacious \Rapa"cious\, a. [L. rapax, -acis, from rapere to
   seize and carry off, to snatch away. See Rapid.]
   1. Given to plunder; disposed or accustomed to seize by
      violence; seizing by force. `` The downfall of the
      rapacious and licentious Knights Templar.'' --Motley.

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

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

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

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