English Dictionary |
PREDATE
Pronunciation (US): | (GB): |
IPA (US): |
Dictionary entry overview: What does predate mean?
• PREDATE (verb)
The verb PREDATE has 4 senses:
1. be earlier in time; go back further
4. establish something as being earlier relative to something else
Familiarity information: PREDATE used as a verb is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
Conjugation: |
Past simple: predated
Past participle: predated
-ing form: predating
Sense 1
Meaning:
Be earlier in time; go back further
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Synonyms:
antecede; antedate; forego; forgo; precede; predate
Context example:
Stone tools precede bronze tools
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
Antonym:
postdate (be later in time)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Come before
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Synonyms:
precede; predate
Context example:
Most English adjectives precede the noun they modify
Hypernyms (to "predate" is one way to...):
lie (be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
Sense 3
Meaning:
Prey on or hunt for
Classified under:
Verbs of eating and drinking
Synonyms:
Context example:
These mammals predate certain eggs
Hypernyms (to "predate" is one way to...):
forage (wander and feed)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Derivation:
predation (the act of preying by a predator who kills and eats the prey)
predation (an act of plundering and pillaging and marauding)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Establish something as being earlier relative to something else
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
Hypernyms (to "predate" is one way to...):
chronologise; chronologize (establish the order in time of something)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Antonym:
postdate (establish something as being later relative to something else)
Context examples
T. rhadinus predated dinosaurs, living more than 245 million years ago during the Triassic Period.
(Scientists discover fossil of dinosaur ancestor with surprising croc-like appearance, NSF)
Its widespread presence on Earth is no surprise, as silica dust has been found throughout the universe and in meteorites that predate our solar system.
(Exploding Stars Make Key Ingredient in Sand, Glass, NASA)
Hypertension that predates pregnancy.
(Chronic Maternal Hypertension, NCI Thesaurus)
This new discovery of one of these compounds, Freon-40, in places that must predate the origin of life, can be seen as a disappointment, as earlier research had suggested that these molecules could indicate the presence of life.
(ALMA and Rosetta Detect Freon-40 in Space, ESO)
Learn English with... Proverbs |
"Poverty is a noose that strangles humility and breeds disrespect for God and man." (Native American proverb, Sioux)
"Blame comes before swords." (Arabic proverb)
"The doctor comes to the house where the sun can't reach." (Corsican proverb)