apex predator

English

Etymology

apex + predator

Noun

apex predator (plural apex predators)

The lion is one of Africa's apex land predators.
  1. An animal atop the food chain, preying but not prey.
    • a. 2007, Martha Hiatt, quoted in, 2007, Wendell Jamieson, Father Knows Less, or, "Can I cook my sister?", Putnam, ISBN 9780399154423, page 203,
      Killer whales are the oceans' apex predators, which means they are at the top of the food chain.
    • 2017 April 2, John Oliver, “Marijuana”, in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, season 4, episode 7, written by Tim Carvell; Josh Gondelman; Dan Gurewitch; Jeff Maurer; Ben Silva; Will Tracy; Jill Twiss; Seena Vali; Julie Weiner, HBO, Warner Bros. Television:
      And marijuana is not a Schedule I any more than a hedgehog is an apex predator. “You’re not scaring anyone, Roland. Get a tattoo.”

Translations

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