noun

1. an act committed in violation of a law prohibiting it, or omitted in violation of a law ordering it; often, specif., such an act of a serious nature, as a felony: crimes are variously punishable by death, imprisonment, or the imposition of certain fines or restrictions: the range of crime includes felonies and misdemeanors, but not petty violations of local ordinances
2. an offense against morality; sin
3. criminal acts, collectively
4. Informal something regrettable or deplorable; shame it's a crime you didn't finish school

Etymology: OFr < L crimen, verdict, object of reproach, offense, prob. < IE *(s)krei- (> scream), extension of base *ker-: see raven