Meaning & Definition of word "Pirate"
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Pirate
/ˈpaɪ.rət/
noun:
- 1. A person who robs ships at sea; a sea robber.
- Example: The infamous pirate Blackbeard terrorized the Caribbean in the early 18th century.
- 2. A person who engages in unauthorized use or distribution of copyrighted material.
- Example: The movie industry is struggling against rampant online pirate activity.
- 3. A person who engages in activities similar to piracy, such as hijacking vessels.
- Example: Somali pirates have been responsible for numerous hijackings in the Gulf of Aden.
verb:
- 1. To illegally copy or use someone else's work.
- Example: He was accused of pirating software from various websites.
Etymology
Middle English from Latin 'pirata', from Greek 'peiratēs' meaning 'to attempt' or 'to try.'
Common Phrases and Expressions
pirate radio:
An illegal radio station that transmits without a license.
copycat pirate:
A person who imitates or reproduces someone else's work illegally.
pirate bay:
A slang term often used to refer to websites that facilitate illegal downloading.
Related Words
privateer:
A pirate authorized by a government to attack enemy ships.
corsair:
A privateer ship that operated in the Mediterranean.
buccaneer:
A pirate who raided Spanish settlements along the Caribbean during the 17th century.
Slang Meanings of pirate
Meaning: To illegally copy digital content.
Example Sentence: He's known for pirating movies and sharing them online.
Meaning: To engage in unauthorized access or hacking.
Example Sentence: They found out he was pirating networks without consent.