vulture

noun

1. Any of several carrion-eating birds of the families Accipitridae and Cathartidae.

   “The outer third of the wing of a vulture consists of the wing tips. The inner two-thirds of the wing are cambered (when the wing is extended), and are concerned with lifting effort in unsoarable air and with lifting and tractive effort in soarable air.”

   “In clusters on the plain, like cowlless monks at matins, sat the vultures that had settled on the corpse of the hyena impaled by the female rhino […]”

2. (colloquial, figuratively)A person who profits from the suffering of others.

   “Within ten minutes of the accident, the vultures appeared and were organizing lawsuits.”

verb

1. (colloquial, figuratively)To circle around one's target as if one were a vulture.

   “Rudy vultured when asking the girl out.”

adj

1. (obsolete)ravenous; rapacious

   “Whose vultur thought doth pitch the price so hie, That she will draw his lips rich treasure drie.”