loot

[ loot ]

/ lut /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR loot ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

spoils or plunder taken by pillaging, as in war.

anything taken by dishonesty, force, stealth, etc.: a burglar's loot.

a collection of valued objects: The children shouted and laughed as they opened their Christmas loot.

Slang. money: You'll have a fine time spending all that loot.

act of looting or plundering: to take part in the loot of a conquered city.

verb (used with object)

to carry off or take (something) as loot: to loot a nation's art treasures.

to despoil by taking loot; plunder or pillage (a city, house, etc.), as in war.

to rob, as by burglary or corrupt activity in public office: to loot the public treasury.

verb (used without object)

to take loot; plunder: The conquerors looted and robbed.

Nearby words

Origin of loot

1780–90; < Hindi lūṭ, akin to Sanskrit luṇṭhati (he) steals

SYNONYMS FOR loot

1. booty. 7. sack, ransack.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR loot ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsloot·er, noun

loot

[ loot ]

/ lut /

verb Scot.

simple past tense of let¹.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for looting

But burning, rioting, and looting are disgraceful—and they make for real-life victims we somehow never hear about.
It’s Time to Hold Protesters Accountable|Ron Christie|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Rioting and looting ensued shortly after the verdict and racial tensions were tense across the United States for years to follow.
It’s Time to Hold Protesters Accountable|Ron Christie|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In January 1948, Spitz again fell under suspicion for his role in the looting of art in Europe during the war.
On the Trail of Nazi Counterfeiters|Dr. Kevin C. Ruffner|September 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
NOTE: D'Souza's quote from Newsmax compared ISIS to 'what's going on in Furgeson,' and beheading to looting.
Dinesh D’Souza: Ferguson Protesters Are Just Like ISIS|Olivia Nuzzi|August 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST

This reminded me of the street battles going on in Missouri and looting accusations.
Bam! Pow! Bling! Hip-Hop's History Gets the Graphic Novel Treatment|Daniel Genis|August 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then looting began; the officers being robbed of everything, even their swords and epaulets.
Twelve Naval Captains|Molly Elliot Seawell
This looting instinct in them is far stronger than the fighting one.
With the Guards' Brigade from Bloemfontein to Koomati Poort and Back|Edward P. Lowry
Meanwhile the warriors were looting the waggons, including my own, having first thrown all the dead Boers into a heap.
Allan's Wife|H. Rider Haggard
The town was in a state of chaos, looting and drinking, and the British were expected next morning.
South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. V (of VI)|Louis Creswicke
And some, alas, were busy with the sinister business of looting.
The Conquest of America|Cleveland Moffett

British Dictionary definitions for looting

loot

/ (luːt) /

noun

goods stolen during pillaging, as in wartime, during riots, etc

goods, money, etc, obtained illegally

informal money or wealth

the act of looting or plundering

verb

to pillage (a city, settlement, etc) during war or riots

to steal (money or goods), esp during pillaging

Derived Formslooter, noun

Word Origin for loot

C19: from Hindi lūt

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for looting

looting

1842, verbal noun from loot (v.).

loot

"goods taken from an enemy, etc.," 1788, Anglo-Indian, from Hindi lut, from Sanskrit loptram, lotram "booty, stolen property," from PIE *roup-tro-, from root *reup- "to snatch" (see rip (v.)). The verb is first attested 1821, from the noun. Related: Looted; looting.

loot

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of loot

loot

verb Scot.

Examples from the Web for looting

loot

noun

verb

Word Origin for loot

looting

loot