v. & n.
v. (past stole; past part. stolen) 1 tr. (also absol.) a take (another person's property) illegally. b take (property etc.) without right or permission, esp. in secret with the intention of not returning it. 2 tr. obtain surreptitiously or by surprise (stole a kiss). 3 tr. a gain insidiously or artfully. b (often foll. by away) win or get possession of (a person's affections etc.), esp. insidiously (stole her heart away). 4 intr. (foll. by in, out, away, up, etc.) a move, esp. silently or stealthily (stole out of the room). b (of a sound etc.) become gradually perceptible. 5 tr. a (in various sports) gain (a run, the ball, etc.) surreptitiously or by luck. b Baseball reach (a base) by deceiving the fielders.
n. 1 US colloq. the act or an instance of stealing or theft. 2 colloq. an unexpectedly easy task or good bargain. steal a march on get an advantage over by surreptitious means; anticipate. steal the show outshine other performers, esp. unexpectedly. steal a person's thunder use another person's words, ideas, etc., without permission and without giving credit. stealer n. (also in comb.).
[ OE stelan f. Gmc ]