[crime] n [ME, fr. MF, fr. L crimen accusation, reproach, crime; prob. akin to L cernere to sift, determine] (14c) 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; esp: a gross violation of law
2: a grave offense esp. against morality
3: criminal activity "efforts to fight ~"
4: something reprehensible, foolish, or disgraceful "it's a ~ to waste good food" syn see offense -- crime.less adj