pirate Hear it!

pirate Definition

pi·rate (rət)

noun

  1. a person who practices piracy; esp., a robber of ships on the high seas
  2. a ship used by pirates in attacking other vessels
  3. one who engages in the illegal recording, transmission, or reception of radio or TV broadcasts

Etymology: ME < L pirata < Gr peiratēs < peirān, to attempt, attack < IE base *per-, to bring through, penetrate > fare

transitive verb, intransitive verb -·rated, -·rat·ing

  1. to practice piracy (upon)
  2. to take (something) by piracy
  3. to publish, reproduce, or make use of without authorization (a literary work, musical recording, videotape, etc.), esp. in violation of a copyright

pirate Related Forms

pi·rati·cal (pī rat i kəl) adjective or pi·ratic pi·rati·cally adverb

pirate Synonyms

pirate

n.

thief, freebooter, plunderer, pillager, marauder, privateer, soldier of fortune, corsair, buccaneer, ranger, sea rover, sea-robber, Barbary pirate, plagiarist; see also criminal, robber.

pirate Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • swashbuckling: Long gone are the days of swashbuckling pirates clanking swords.
  • notorious: The St. Barbe, on the homeward voyage, had been seized by the notorious pirate, and scuttled near the Nash Sands.
  • infamous: The fishing village of Punta Allen, founded by the infamous pirate Blackbeard in the 18th century, is two hours drive away.
  • legendary: Learn about the legendary pirates by visiting the museum exhibit.
  • Danish: Usually the story goes that a Danish pirate decided to sack the church and was caught red-handed.
  • Dutch: Also, Venezuela's coastal ports were subject to frequent attacks by British, French and Dutch pirates throughout the colonial period.

Converse of object

  • maraud: A celebration is held here on September 8 each year to mark a famous victory over marauding pirates.
  • them: Round the day off by holding a pirate themed Trafalgar Night Dinner.
  • defeat: One was the great fire on shore, by which the defeated pirates lay carousing in the swamp.

Converse of subject

  • kidnap: When he was about fifteen years old, he was kidnaped by Irish pirates and reduced to slavery to tend herds for six years.
  • capture: But have you hear that he was once captured by pirates and invaded his own town?

Modifies a noun

  • dvds: It doesn't mean your PC's been selling pirate DVDs and that you'll end up in the nick.
  • galleon: There's lots to talk and laugh about in this large action-packed shaped jigsaw puzzle of a pirate galleon.
  • radio: During the 60's I loved the pirate radio stations.
  • captain: Students then used these language features to write instructions for a pirate captain on how to get to their treasure!
  • ship: Outside Treasure Island a battle goes on between pirate ships.

Object

  • dvds: At the very least purchasers of pirated DVDs are supporting an illegal activity.
  • disk: More than 1.5 million pieces of pirated optical disk with value over NT$ 1.8 billion were seized.
  • software: You can't pirate open source software, you can however sell it however you like.

Browse dictionary entries near pirate

  1. pirarucu
  2. piranha
  3. Piranesi
  4. Pirandello, Luigi
  5. Pirandello
  6. piragua
  7. Piraeus
  8. piracy
  9. piquet
  10. piqued
  1. piratical
  2. pirn
  3. pirogen
  4. pirogi
  5. pirogue
  6. piroshki
  7. pirouette
  8. Pirsig, Robert M
  9. Pirsig, Robert M(aynard)
  10. pis-aller