Anything, such as goods, etc., taken or got by violence; something taken by force from an enemy in war
"The soldiers celebrated after returning to camp with a large haul of livestock and weapons captured as prey during the raid."
In plain English: Prey is an animal that gets hunted and eaten by other animals for food.
"The fox hunted small rodents for prey in the winter forest."
Usage: Use this noun to describe valuable items captured during conflict rather than animals hunted for food. It specifically refers to spoils of war or property seized through force and aggression.
To act as a predator.
"The lion stalked through the tall grass to find prey."
The word "prey" comes from the Latin praeda, which originally meant a plunder or spoil taken during war. It traveled into English through Middle French and Anglo-Norman before evolving to specifically refer to an animal hunted by another for food.