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View synonyms for pirate

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 pirate 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.
  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)

, pi·rat·ed, pi·rat·ing.
  1. to commit or practice piracy.

pirate

/ ˈpaɪrɪt; paɪˈrætɪkəl /

noun

  1. a person who commits piracy
    1. a vessel used by pirates
    2. ( as modifier )

      a pirate ship

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

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Derived Forms

  • piratical, adjective
  • piˈratically, adverb

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Other Words From

  • pirate·like adjective
  • pi·rat·i·cal [pahy-, rat, -i-k, uh, 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

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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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of pirate1

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

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Example Sentences

How to make a pirate hatCosplay can be fun, and few characters are more classic than pirates.

How to make a paper boatThe paper pirate hat is so versatile that any swashbuckling seafarer can whip it right off their head and turn it into a worthy watercraft.

With digital releases, pirates use technologies not available to most consumers to make perfect copies quickly.

From Fortune

How generally nonviolent it was from the moment that the pirates got on board, and how well the trades functioned.

Simply put, the pirates of the Caribbean tended to prey on the merchant vessels rather than the powerful warships that usually even moved in squadrons.

Spam, squirt guns, earthworms, pirate costumes—stuff like that.

His acceptance speech was a reflection of his career, and laced with enough profanity to make a pirate blush.

Abdi did not have any contact with Muse; Greengrass tried to get hold of the jailed pirate, but was not allowed to speak to him.

In 2007, Pirate Bay even attempted to raise the funds to purchase Sealand.

What seems to have been a new Dread Pirate Robert, DPR2, greeted users with a “welcome back to Freedom” note.

The private trader therefore still ran great risk of being treated as a smuggler, if not as a pirate.

But, missionary or pirate, he had visited Darien, and had brought away none but delightful recollections.

Countless dogs fought under the feet of passers-by, and over all leered the sardonic face of Jean Bart, pirate and privateer.

Soon as the alarm was spread, Prince Tancred, who was near Cefalu, took ships and followed after the pirate's two vessels.

"I cannot see in what respect he was any better than a pirate," added Evelyn, in a quiet tone.

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