# raven

/ˈɹeɪvən/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/raven
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the bird

noun · CEFR B2

a large, intelligent bird with shiny black feathers and a sharp beak.

For teachers: any of several large, black-plumaged birds of the genus Corvus, specifically Corvus corax, noted for their intelligence and complex vocalizations.

- A large raven sat on the fence and watched the garden.
- The common raven is distinguished from the crow by its larger size, wedge-shaped tail, and deeper, more resonant croak.

### 2. astronomy

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a group of stars in the southern sky that looks like a bird.

For teachers: a small constellation in the Southern Celestial Hemisphere, also known by its Latin name Corvus.

- On a clear night, you can see the Raven constellation near Virgo.
- The Raven is a compact constellation whose four brightest stars form a distinctive quadrilateral visible to observers in the southern latitudes.

### 3. color

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

having a very dark, shiny black color like a raven's feathers.

For teachers: of a glossy, jet-black color; typically used to describe hair or plumage.

- She had long, raven hair that shone in the sunlight.
- The protagonist was described as having striking raven locks that contrasted sharply with his pale, weathered features.

### 4. to eat greedily

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

to eat something very quickly and hungrily, or to look for food like a wild animal.

For teachers: to consume food greedily or to prey upon something; often used in the form 'ravening'.

- The hungry wolves began to raven the remains of the deer.
- The soldiers were warned not to raven the countryside for supplies, though their dwindling rations made the order difficult to follow.

## Examples

- A large raven sat on the fence and watched the garden.
- The hikers spotted a raven soaring above the canyon, its distinctive croak echoing against the stone walls.
- In various mythologies, the raven is depicted as a complex figure, serving alternately as a creator deity, a cunning trickster, or a somber harbinger of fate.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.