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
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

Derived Forms

• piratical, adjective
• piˈratically, adverb

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

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

In better days, the Ferris wheel, pirate ship and outdoor trampoline — advertised as the biggest in Asia — would draw thousands of children a day.

From Los Angeles Times

The show’s fifth and final season kicked off in October, and if you, like me, are fond of Tendi’s space pirate side, the first couple episodes are especially a treat.

From Los Angeles Times

“Kitchens are very much like a pirate ship and the way we designed and conceived our kitchen was also like a submarine,” Ruizpalacios says.

From Los Angeles Times

Audiences flocked to see pirate movies, jazz musicals, and religious epics.

From Slate

Before Lurie left the Castro fair, Anthony Alfonso, dressed as a pirate, moved quickly through the crowds to take a picture with him.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• raider