n. & v.
--n.
1. a a person who commits piracy. b a ship used by pirates.
2 a person who infringes another's copyright or other business rights; a plagiarist.
3 (often attrib.) a person, organization, etc., that broadcasts without official authorization (pirate radio station).
--v.tr.
1. appropriate or reproduce (the work or ideas etc. of another) without permission, for one's own benefit.
2 plunder.
Derivatives:
piratic adj. piratical adj. piratically adv.
Etymology: ME f. L pirata f. Gk peirates f. peirao attempt, assault