Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Depredation

Depˊre-da′tion

,
Noun.
[L.
depraedatio
: cf. F.
déprédation
.]
The act of depredating, or the state of being depredated; the act of despoiling or making inroads;
as, the sea often makes
depredation
on the land
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Depredation

DEPREDATION

,
Noun.
1.
The act of plundering; a robbing; a pillaging.
2.
Waste; consumption; a taking away by any act of violence. The sea often makes depredations on the land. Intemperance commits depredations on the constitution.

Definition 2024


depredation

depredation

See also: déprédation

English

Noun

depredation (plural depredations)

  1. An act of consuming agricultural resources (crops, livestock), especially as plunder.
    • 2003, The Living Elephants: Evolutionary Ecology, Behavior, and Conservation, by R. Sukumar, page 299:
      Depredation of cultivated crops by elephants is widespread in both Africa and Asia.
  2. A raid or predatory attack.
    Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman had long known that his fragile supply and communication lines through Tennessee were in serious jeopardy because of depredations by Forrest's cavalry raids. (Battle of Brice's Crossroads)

Translations