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pirate

- 6 dictionary results

–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)

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)

10.

to commit or practice piracy.

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Origin:
1250–1300; ME < L pīrāta < Gk peirātḗs, equiv. to peirā-, var. s. of peirân to attack + -tēs agent n. suffix

—Related forms

pi·rate·like, adjective

pi·rat·i·cal [pahy-rat-i-kuh

l, pi-]

, pi·rat·ic, adjective

pi·rat·i·cal·ly, adverb

un·pi·rat·ed, adjective

un·pi·rat·i·cal, adjective

un·pi·rat·i·cal·ly, adverb

—Synonyms
1. freebooter, buccaneer, corsair, plunderer.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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Link To pirate

World English Dictionary

pirate (ˈpaɪrɪt)

—n
1.	a person who commits piracy
2.	a. a vessel used by pirates
	b. (as modifier): a pirate ship
3.	a person who illicitly uses or appropriates someone else's literary, artistic, or other work
4.	a. a person or group of people who broadcast illegally
	b. (as modifier): a pirate radio station

—vb
5.	(tr) to use, appropriate, or reproduce (artistic work, ideas, etc) illicitly

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

piratical

—*adj*

pi'ratic

—*adj*

pi'ratically

—*adv*

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Word Origin & History

pirate

1254, from O.Fr. pirate, from L. pirata "sailor, sea robber," from Gk. peirates "brigand, pirate," lit. "one who attacks," from peiran "to attack, make a hostile attempt on, try," from peira "trial, an attempt, attack," from PIE base *per- "try" (cf. L. peritus "experienced," periculum "trial, experiment, risk, danger," see peril). Meaning "one who takes another's work without permission" first recorded 1701; sense of "unlicensed radio broadcaster" is from 1913. The verb is first recorded 1574.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: pi·rate
Pronunciation: 'pI-r&t
Function: noun
: a person who commits piracy

Main Entry: pirate
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: pi·rat·ed; pi·rat·ing
transitive verb : to take or appropriate by piracy; especially : to copy, distribute, or use without authorization esp. in infringement of copyright pirated software> <pirating cable signals> intransitive verb : to commit piracy —compare BOOTLEG

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Computing Dictionary