1. A reference to hawks and eagles.
2. The family Accipitridae, eagles, harriers, hawks, kites, Old World vultures; large and diverse family of raptors (Falconiformes) distributed worldwide except for polar regions.

They feed mainly on small vertebrates captured using powerful feet, some feeding on carrion; solitary or gregarious in habits, monogamous, nesting in trees, cliffs, or on the ground. There are about 215 species.

Some writers use accipitrine figuratively as the equivalent of “predatory”.