pirate Definition
pi·rate (pī′rət)
noun
- a person who practices piracy; esp., a robber of ships on the high seas
- a ship used by pirates in attacking other vessels
- 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
- to practice piracy (upon)
- to take (something) by piracy
- 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·rat′i·cal (pī rat′ i kəl) adjective or pi·rat′ic
pi·rat′i·cally adverb
pirate Synonyms
pirate
n.
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
Browse dictionary entries near pirate
- ‹ pirarucu
- ‹ piranha
- ‹ Piranesi
- ‹ Pirandello, Luigi
- ‹ Pirandello
- ‹ piragua
- ‹ Piraeus
- ‹ piracy
- ‹ piquet
- ‹ piqued
- piratical ›
- pirn ›
- pirogen ›
- pirogi ›
- pirogue ›
- piroshki ›
- pirouette ›
- Pirsig, Robert M ›
- Pirsig, Robert M(aynard) ›
- pis-aller ›

