vraat

Vraat is a Dutch noun meaning a voracious eater, referring to a person who eats a lot or to an animal that feeds greedily. In zoological or natural-history contexts it can describe predatory or especially greedy feeders. In everyday language, vraat often carries a negative connotation when applied to a person, implying greed, excess, or wasteful consumption of food or resources. The term can also be used metaphorically to describe someone who consumes time, money, or attention at an excessive rate.

Etymology and related terms: Vraat is of Dutch origin and is related to the verb vreten, which means to gnaw or devour. The noun formation identifies the one who devours. Related terms include vreter, meaning simply eater, and vraatzucht, denoting voracity or gluttonous appetite. The adjective vraatzuchtig describes someone or something characterized by voracious eating or greed.

Usage notes: While vraat can describe wildlife or pests in a factual sense, it is more commonly used in colloquial speech to criticize a person’s eating behavior or appetite. It can also appear in literary or humorous contexts to emphasize excess or insatiability. The term is generally avoided in formal or clinical language when a neutral scientific description is preferred.

See also: vreter; vraatzucht; vraatzuchtig. In English translations, vraat is often rendered as “glutton” or “voracious eater,” depending on context.