/ ˈpaɪrət; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
(especially in the past) a person on a ship who attacks other ships at sea in order to steal from them :
a pirate ship
2.
(often used as an adjective) a person who makes illegal copies of video tapes, computer programs, books, etc., in order to sell them :
a pirate edition
software pirates
3.
(often used as an adjective) a person or an organization that broadcasts illegally :
a pirate radio station
—see also piracy
► pir·at·ical / ˌpaɪˈrætɪkl; NAmE / adjective
■ verb
[ vn ] to copy and use or sell sb's work or a product without permission and without having the right to do so :
pirated computer games
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Latin pirata , from Greek peiratēs , from peirein to attempt, attack (from peira an attempt).