raven

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

n. 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.”

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

n. 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.”

Technical

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

adj. 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.”

Literary

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

v. 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.”

Archaic · Literary