large black bird with a straight bill and long wedge-shaped tail
"The raven perched on the fence post, displaying its glossy black feathers and distinctive wedge-shaped tail to the passing dog."
Any of several, generally large and lustrous black species of birds in the genus Corvus, especially the common raven, Corvus corax.
"The raven's greedy eyes scanned the picnic basket, ready to snatch any scrap it could find."
Rapine; rapacity.
In plain English: A raven is a large, black bird with a loud croaking call that looks very similar to a crow but has bigger feet and wings.
"The raven flew across the dark sky and landed on an old oak tree."
Usage: Use "raven" to refer specifically to large, glossy black birds like the common crow relative, rather than using it as a general term for any dark bird. While often confused with crows due to their similar appearance and intelligence, ravens are typically larger with more varied vocalizations.
obtain or seize by violence
"The notorious thief managed to raven the jewelry from the museum's display case before fleeing into the night."
To obtain or seize by violence.
"The bandit managed to raven a golden ring from the merchant's finger during the scuffle."
In plain English: To raven means to eat greedily and noisily, usually when you are very hungry.
"The dark clouds began to raven over our heads just before the storm arrived."
Of the color of the raven; jet-black
"The raven's feathers were as black as midnight, making its silhouette stark against the pale sky."
"The raven hair shimmered in the moonlight."
A surname.
"Raven was born into a family that has carried the name as a surname for generations."
The word "raven" comes from Old English hræfn and entered Middle English with a broad meaning that included various dark birds like crows and rooks, as well as the constellation and ink made from gall nuts. Its ultimate origin is likely onomatopoeic, tracing back to ancient roots for "croak" or "crackle" that imitated the bird's distinctive call.