Nota: A tradução desta entrada está atualmente em revisão de qualidade, portanto parte do conteúdo é exibida temporariamente apenas em inglês.
Este verbete ainda não foi traduzido para o seu idioma, portanto o original é exibido abaixo.
predate
This word operates in two entirely different semantic domains: chronology and biology. In a chronological sense, it is a formal term used to establish a timeline, often appearing in academic, historical, or legal contexts to indicate that one event happened before another. It is more precise than simply saying something was "earlier than."
In a biological context, the word describes the predatory relationship between species. While "hunt" is a general term for the act of chasing prey, "predate" specifically defines the ecological role of a predator within a food chain. It is primarily used in scientific writing and natural history rather than casual conversation.
Meanings
Examples
The ruins of this temple predate the Roman Empire by several centuries.
These fossils predate the known emergence of mammals.
Wait, does this law predate the current constitution?
The invention of the printing press predates the industrial revolution.
The invention of the printing press predates the industrial revolution.
I wonder if this tradition predates the founding of the village.
Certain species of sharks predate most land animals.
The hawk will predate smaller birds and rodents in this region.
In this ecosystem, larger fish predate on the smaller ones.