pirate

[pahy-ruht]

noun

1. a person who robs or commits illegal violence at sea or on the shores of the sea.

   Synonyms: plunderer, corsair, buccaneer, freebooter

2. a ship used by such persons.

3. any plunderer, predator, etc..

   confidence men, slumlords, and other pirates.

4. a person who uses or reproduces the work or invention of another without authorization.

5. Also called pirate stream. Geology.,  a stream that diverts into its own flow the headwaters of another stream, river, etc.

verb (used with object)

pirated, pirating 

1. to commit piracy upon; plunder; rob.

2. to take by piracy.

   to pirate gold.

3. to use or reproduce (a book, an invention, etc.) without authorization or legal right.

   to pirate hit records.

4. to take or entice away for one's own use.

   Our competitor is trying to pirate our best salesman.

verb (used without object)

pirated, pirating 

1. to commit or practice piracy.

pirate

/ ˈpaɪrɪt, paɪˈrætɪkəl /

noun

1. a person who commits piracy

2. 1. a vessel used by pirates

   2. ( as modifier )

      a pirate ship

3. a person who illicitly uses or appropriates someone else's literary, artistic, or other work

4. 1. a person or group of people who broadcast illegally

   2. ( as modifier )

      a pirate radio station

verb

1. (tr) to use, appropriate, or reproduce (artistic work, ideas, etc) illicitly

Other Word Forms

• piratelike adjective
• piratical adjective
• piratic adjective
• piratically adverb
• unpirated adjective
• unpiratical adjective
• unpiratically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of pirate¹

1250–1300; Middle English < Latin pīrāta < Greek peirātḗs, equivalent to peirā- , variant stem of peirân to attack + -tēs agent noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of pirate¹

C15: from Latin pīrāta, from Greek peirātēs one who attacks, from peira an attempt, attack

Example Sentences

Are we not warmed by the same ultraviolet rays, quenched by the same pirated water, ensnared in the same gill net of freeways?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“This settlement sends a powerful message to AI companies and creators alike that taking copyrighted works from these pirate websites is wrong.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"Cracking down on pirates directly is just one part of the solution," Mr Woods said.

Read more on BBC

Alsup found the usage to be “exceedingly transformative” and “a fair use,” though the company might have broken the law by pirating a large portion of its source material.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

For example, One Piece, at its heart, is a series about pirates.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• raider