Quick Definition
ἀετός, οῦ, ὁ n.m. an eagle, bird of prey
Strong's Definition
from the same as 109; an eagle (from its wind-like flight)
KJV Usage: eagle
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, m. | -οῦ
4.42 · Animals · Birds
eagle, vulture generic word for a large bird of prey; genus Aquila, but may include others, esp. vulture In REV 12:14 the emphasis is upon strength and speed, and therefore a term meaning ‘eagle’ is probably more satisfactory, but in MAT 24:28 (and the parallel passages in LUK 17:37) the reference is to the eating of dead flesh, and therefore a word meaning ‘vultures’ is more appropriate.
The basic distinction between eagles and vultures is that the former either capture their prey or feed upon dead carcasses, while vultures only feed upon dead carcasses. Only in the Western Hemisphere are there two distinct families of birds: (1) birds of prey, which also feed upon dead bodies (eagles) and (2) vultures, which never take live prey, but only feed upon carcasses.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἀετός, -οῦ, ὁ, (like Lat. avis, fr. ἄημι on account of its wind-like flight [ef. Curtius § 596]), [fr. Hom. down], in Sept. for 7), an eagle: Rev. iv.7; viii. 13 (Rec. ἀγγέλου): xii. 14. In Mt. xxiv. 28; Lk. xvii. 37 (as in Job xxxix. 30; Proy. xxx. 17) it is better, since eagles are said seldom or never to go in quest of carrion, to understand with many interpreters either the vultur percnopterus, which resembles an eagle (Plin. ἢ. n. 10, 3 “quarti generis — viz. aquilarum — est percnopterus”), or the vullur barbatus. Cf. Win. RWB. 5. v. Adler; [ Tristram, Nat. Hist. of the Bible, p. 172 sqq.]. The meaning of the proverb [cf. exx. in Wetst. on Mt. 1. 6.1 quoted in both passages is, ‘where there are sinners (cf. πτῶμα), there judgments from heaven will not be wanting’.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἀετός aetos 5x
an eagle, Rev. 12:14; or vulture, Lk. 17:37
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἀετός, -οῦ, ὁ,
[in LXX for נֶשֶׁר;]
an eagle: Re 4:7 8:13 (Rec. ἀγγέλου) 12:14. Where carrion is referred to, ἀ. is probably a vulture (cf. Jb 39:30, Pr 30:17): Mt 24:28, Lk 17:37 (MM, VGT, s.v.).†
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ἀετός (aetos) — eagle. ἀετός, Epic dialect, Lyric poetry, Ionic dialect, and early Attic dialect αἰετός (see. near the end), οῦ, ὁ, eagle, as a bird of omen, αἰ. τελειότατον πετεηνῶν[Refs 8th c.BC+]: favourite of Zeus, ὅστε σοὶ αὐτῷ φίλτατος οἰωνῶν[Refs 8th c.BC+]; αἰετὸς ἐν νεφέλαισι, of a thing quite out of reach, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀετὸν κάνθαρος μαιεύσομαι (see. μαιεύομαι):—the different kinds are distinguished by specific names, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
2. eagle as a standard, of the Persians, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of the Romans, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
3. the constellation [Refs 4th c.BC+]
II. omen, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
III. eagle-ray, Myliobatis aquila, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
IV. in Architecture, gable, pediment (from its resemblance to outspread wings, [Refs 5th c.BC+]come under the same roof, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
V. name of bandage, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
VI. temporal vein (Magna Graecia), Philistionap.[Refs 2nd c.AD+]
VII. iron part of spoke of wheel, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
VIII. Astrology texts and Magic, fabulous plant growing in Libya, [Refs 2nd c.AD+] in early Attic dialect Inscrr., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; αἰβετός (i.e. αἰϝετός) [Refs 5th c.AD+]