predation

 
Pronunciation: /prɪˈdeɪʃ(ə)n/

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1the preying of one animal on others: an effective defence against predation
  • 2the action of attacking or plundering: the old story of male predation and female vulnerability [count noun]: the predations of would-be pirates

Origin:

late 15th century (in the Latin sense): from Latin praedatio(n-) 'taking of booty', from the verb praedari 'seize as plunder', from praeda 'booty'. The zoological sense dates from the 1930s