a person who attacks and robs ships at sea
The fearsome pirate raised a black flag as his ship closed in on the merchant vessel.
Children at the party dressed up as pirates and searched for hidden treasure in the backyard.
✦ From Latin ‘pirata’, through Old French and Middle English, originally meaning ‘sea robber’.
someone who illegally copies and distributes music, movies, software, or other copyrighted material
The court fined the notorious software pirate for distributing cracked programs online.
Streaming services have reduced the number of pirates who used to share movies illegally.
✦ Extended meaning from the original ‘sea robber’ to ‘intellectual property thief’ in the 20th century.
to attack and rob ships at sea
During the golden age of sailing, crews would pirate merchant ships for their gold.
They plotted to pirate the cargo once the vessel reached open waters.
to illegally copy and share music, movies, software, or other copyrighted material
Some people still pirate movies instead of paying for legal copies.
She refuses to pirate e-books, preferring to support her favorite authors.
