I. ˈkrīm noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin crimen accusation, fault, crime; perhaps akin to Old High German scrīan to cry out — more at scream
1.
a. : an act or the commission of an act that is forbidden or the omission of a duty that is commanded by a public law of a sovereign state to the injury of the public welfare and that makes the offender liable to punishment by that law in a proceeding brought against him by the state by indictment, information, complaint, or similar criminal procedure : an offense against public law (as a misdemeanor, felony, or act of treason) providing a penalty against the offender but not including a petty violation of municipal regulation — compare delict , malice , malum in se , malum prohibitum , tort , wrong
b. : an offense against the social order or a violation of the mores that is dealt with by community action rather than by an individual or kinship group
2. obsolete
a. : charge , accusation
b. : cause for accusation or reproach
3.
a. : a gross violation of law — distinguished from misdemeanor, trespass
b. : a grave or aggravated offense against or departure from moral rectitude
4. : criminal activity : conduct in violation of the law
5.
a. : an evil act : sin : a violation of divine law ; especially : a grievous sin
b. : sinful conduct : wrongdoing
6. : something reprehensible, foolish, indiscreet, or disgraceful
it's a crime to waste good food
the bishop's crime was that he dogmatized — Walter Moberly
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
slang Britain : to indict and punish (a soldier) for a minor infraction of military rules