[cheat] vt (1590) 1: to deprive of something valuable by the use of deceit or fraud
2: to influence or lead by deceit, trick, or artifice
3: to elude or thwart by or as if by outwitting "~ death" ~ vi 1 a: to practice fraud or trickery b: to violate rules dishonestly (as at cards or on an examination)
2: to be sexually unfaithful--usu. used with on -- cheat.er n syn cheat, cozen, defraud, swindle mean to get something by dishonesty or deception. cheat suggests using trickery that escapes observation "cheated me out of a dollar". cozen implies artful persuading or flattering to attain a thing or a purpose "always able to cozen her grandfather out of a few dollars". defraud stresses depriving one of his or her rights and usu. connotes deliberate perversion of the truth "defrauded of her inheritance by an unscrupulous lawyer". swindle implies large-scale cheating by misrepresentation or abuse of confidence "swindled of their savings by con artists".
[2]cheat n [earlier cheat forfeited property, fr. ME chet escheat, short for eschete--more at escheat] (1631) 1: the act or an instance of fraudulently deceiving: deception, fraud
2: one that cheats: pretender, deceiver
3: any of several grasses; esp: the common chess (Bromus secalinus)
4: the obtaining of property from another by an intentional active distortion of the truth