<p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>any of several birds of prey of the family Falconidae, especially of the genus Falco, usually distinguished by long, pointed wings, a hooked beak with a toothlike notch on each side of the upper bill, and swift, agile flight, typically diving to seize prey: some falcon species are close to extinction.</li><li>the female gyrfalcon.</li><li>falcon-gentle.</li><li>any bird of prey trained for use in falconry.</li><li>a small, light cannon in use from the 15th to the 17th century.</li><li>a family of air-to-air guided missiles, some of them capable of carrying nuclear warheads.</li></ul>