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
Origin:
ME < L pirata < Gr peiratēs < peirān, to attempt, attack < IE base *per-, to bring through, penetrate > fare
transitive verb, intransitive verb pirated, pirating
- 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