n.
Pronunciation: ' kr ī m
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin crimen accusation, reproach, crime; probably akin to Latin cernere to sift, determine
Date: 14th century
1 : an act or the commission of an act that is forbidden or the omission of a duty that is commanded by a public law and that makes the offender liable to punishment by that law especially : a gross violation of law
2 : a grave offense especially against morality
3 : criminal activity <efforts to fight crime >
4 : something reprehensible, foolish, or disgraceful <it's a crime to waste good food>
synonyms see OFFENSE
– crime · less \ -l ə s \ adjective