pirate

[ pahy-ruht ]

/ ˈpaɪ rət /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR pirate ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

a ship used by such persons.

any plunderer, predator, etc.: confidence men, slumlords, and other pirates.

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

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

verb (used with object), pi·rat·ed, pi·rat·ing.

to commit piracy upon; plunder; rob.

to take by piracy: to pirate gold.

to use or reproduce (a book, an invention, etc.) without authorization or legal right: to pirate hit records.

to take or entice away for one's own use: Our competitor is trying to pirate our best salesman.

verb (used without object), pi·rat·ed, pi·rat·ing.

to commit or practice piracy.

Nearby words

Origin of pirate

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

SYNONYMS FOR pirate

1. freebooter, buccaneer, corsair, plunderer.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR pirate ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

pi·rate·like, adjectivepi·rat·i·cal

[pahy-rat-i-kuhl, pi-] /paɪˈræt ɪ kəl, pɪ-/, pi·rat·ic, adjectivepi·rat·i·cal·ly, adverbun·pi·rat·ed, adjective

un·pi·rat·i·cal, adjectiveun·pi·rat·i·cal·ly, adverb

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

Examples from the Web for piratical

George Townshend, commanding on that station, of the "piratical behavior" of Haddon.
Privateering and Piracy in the Colonial Period|Various
In the 5th century we again hear of piratical incursions by the Heruli in the western seas.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 4|Various
If I were in the east now, I could stop the publication of a piratical book which has stolen some of my sketches.
The Letters Of Mark Twain, Volume 1, 1853-1866|Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
“He got an ugly wound in cutting out a piratical junk in the Indian seas,” said Murray.
The Three Commanders|W.H.G. Kingston

The piratical slave-dealers of Georgia looked upon these people, both Exiles and slaves, with strong desire to possess them.
The Exiles of Florida|Joshua R. Giddings

British Dictionary definitions for piratical

pirate

/ (ˈpaɪrɪt) /

noun

a person who commits piracy

a vessel used by pirates
(as modifier)a pirate ship

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

a person or group of people who broadcast illegally
(as modifier)a pirate radio station

verb

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

Derived Formspiratical (paɪˈrætɪkəl) or piratic, adjectivepiratically, adverb

Word Origin for pirate

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

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 piratical

piratical

adj.

1570s, from Latin piraticus "pertaining to pirates," from Greek peiratikos, from peirates "pirate" (see pirate (n.)) + -ical. Related: Piratically (1540s).

pirate

c.1300 (mid-13c. as a surname), from Latin pirata "sailor, corsair, sea robber" (source of Spanish, Italian pirata, Dutch piraat, German Pirat), literally "one who attacks (ships)," from Greek peirates "brigand, pirate," literally "one who attacks," from peiran "to attack, make a hostile attempt on, try," from peira "trial, an attempt, attack," from PIE root *per- "try" (cf. Latin peritus "experienced," periculum "trial, experiment; attempt on or against; enterprise;" see peril). An Old English word for it was sæsceaða. Meaning "one who takes another's work without permission" first recorded 1701; sense of "unlicensed radio broadcaster" is from 1913.

pirate

1570s, from pirate (n.). Related: Pirated; pirating.

pirate

noun

verb (used with object), pi·rat·ed, pi·rat·ing.

verb (used without object), pi·rat·ed, pi·rat·ing.

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pirate

noun

verb

Word Origin for pirate

piratical

pirate

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