I. ˈstēl verb
( stole ˈstōl ; sto·len ˈstō-lən ; steal·ing )
Etymology: Middle English stelen, from Old English stelan; akin to Old High German stelan to steal
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
1. : to take the property of another wrongfully and especially as a habitual or regular practice
2. : to come or go secretly, unobtrusively, gradually, or unexpectedly
3. : to steal or attempt to steal a base
transitive verb
1.
a. : to take or appropriate without right or leave and with intent to keep or make use of wrongfully
stole a car
b. : to take away by force or unjust means
they've stolen our liberty
c. : to take surreptitiously or without permission
steal a kiss
d. : to appropriate to oneself or beyond one's proper share : make oneself the focus of
steal the show
2.
a. : to move, convey, or introduce secretly : smuggle
b. : to accomplish in a concealed or unobserved manner
steal a visit
3.
a. : to seize, gain, or win by trickery, skill, or daring
a basketball player adept at steal ing the ball
stole the election
b. of a base runner : to reach (a base) safely solely by running and usually catching the opposing team off guard
• steal·able ˈstē-lə-bəl adjective
• steal·er noun
•
- steal a march on
- steal one's thunder
Synonyms:
steal , pilfer , filch , purloin mean to take from another without right or without detection. steal may apply to any surreptitious taking of something and differs from the other terms by commonly applying to intangibles as well as material things
steal jewels
stole a look at the gifts
pilfer implies stealing repeatedly in small amounts
pilfered from his employer
filch adds a suggestion of snatching quickly and surreptitiously
filched an apple from the tray
purloin stresses removing or carrying off for one's own use or purposes
printed a purloined document
II. noun
Date: circa 1825
1. : the act or an instance of stealing
2. : a fraudulent or questionable political deal
3. : bargain 2
it's a steal at that price