raven.
Any of several, generally large, species of birds in the genus Corvus with lustrous black plumage; especially the common raven (Corvus corax).
Meaning & usage
Any of several, generally large, species of birds in the genus Corvus with lustrous black plumage; especially the common raven (Corvus corax).
Any of several, generally large, species of birds in the genus Corvus with lustrous black plumage; especially the common raven (Corvus corax). A jet-black, often glossy, colour, like that of the plumage of a raven (etymology 1, noun sense 1).
Any of several, generally large, species of birds in the genus Corvus with lustrous black plumage; especially the common raven (Corvus corax). Usually preceded by a descriptive word: a bird from a genus other than Corvus that resembles the raven (etymology 1, noun sense 1), especially in having black plumage; also, an imaginary black bird.
Any of several, generally large, species of birds in the genus Corvus with lustrous black plumage; especially the common raven (Corvus corax). A flag bearing a raven (etymology 1, noun sense 1), formerly used by some Viking leaders
Any of several, generally large, species of birds in the genus Corvus with lustrous black plumage; especially the common raven (Corvus corax). A flag bearing a raven (etymology 1, noun sense 1), formerly used by some Viking leaders preceded by the: Viking military power.
Any of several, generally large, species of birds in the genus Corvus with lustrous black plumage; especially the common raven (Corvus corax). A person, especially a man, with black hair.
A person who brings bad news or makes pessimistic predictions.
Where this word comes from
From Middle English raven, reven (“raven (Corvus corax); carrion crow (Corvus corone); rook (Corvus frugilegus) (?); the constellation Corvus; gall nuts of the Aleppo oak (Quercus infectoria) used to make black ink”), from Old English hræfn (“raven”), from Proto-West Germanic *hrabn (“raven”), from Proto-Germanic *hrabnaz (“raven”), probably from Proto-Indo-European *ḱrep- (“to crackle; to rattle”) or *ḱer- (“to croak, crow”), probably ultimately onomatopoeic, referring to the bird’s call.
Of the jet-black and often glossy colour of the plumage of a raven (etymology 1, noun sense 1).
raven curls raven darkness
She was a tall, sophisticated, raven-haired beauty.
Where this word comes from
From Middle English raven, reven (“raven (Corvus corax); carrion crow (Corvus corone); rook (Corvus frugilegus) (?); the constellation Corvus; gall nuts of the Aleppo oak (Quercus infectoria) used to make black ink”), from Old English hræfn (“raven”), from Proto-West Germanic *hrabn (“raven”), from Proto-Germanic *hrabnaz (“raven”), probably from Proto-Indo-European *ḱrep- (“to crackle; to rattle”) or *ḱer- (“to croak, crow”), probably ultimately onomatopoeic, referring to the bird’s call.
Alternative spelling of ravin. Sometimes followed by away or from: to obtain or seize (something, especially property) by force or violence; to plunder.
Alternative spelling of ravin. Sometimes followed by down, up, or (obsolete) in: to eat (something, such as food or prey) greedily; to devour, to wolf down.
Alternative spelling of ravin. To absorb or take in (something, such as information) greedily; also, to approach or pounce on (someone) like prey.
Alternative spelling of ravin. Followed by about, after, or for: to go after or seek for something, especially booty or spoils; to maraud, to plunder; also (generally), to move about wildly and cause damage; to rampage.
Alternative spelling of ravin. To eat greedily; also, followed by on or upon: of an animal: to prey on.
Alternative spelling of ravin. Sometimes followed by about or on: to move about searching for food or prey ravenously.
Alternative spelling of ravin. Sometimes followed by after or for: to have a ravenous appetite or craving for food or prey.
Alternative spelling of ravin. Originally followed by with: to experience great hunger; to be ravenous.
Alternative spelling of ravin. To take and exploit or make use of greedily.
Alternative spelling of ravin. Sometimes followed by after or for: to have a strong craving or desire for, or to do, something; to crave, to desire, to yearn.
Where this word comes from
A variant of ravin, from Middle English ravin, ravine, raven (noun).
Alternative spelling of ravin.
Where this word comes from
A variant of ravin, from Middle English ravin, ravine, raven (noun).
Alternative spelling of ravin.
Where this word comes from
A variant of ravin, from Middle English ravin, ravine, raven (noun).
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Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.
Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.