steal — to take someone else's property without permission
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to take someone else's property without permission
Pronunciation (IPA): /stiːl/
Example Sentences
- My cat steals socks and hides them under the couch like a furry kleptomaniac.
- The company was accused of stealing trade secrets from its competitors.
- He tried to steal a kiss, but she dodged faster than a ninja.
steal
VERB[/stiːl/]
to take someone else's property without permission
to take someone else's property without permission
"Steal the base with nerves of steel — one wrong move and the catcher will seal the deal."
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Old English 'stelan', which shares common ancestry with other Germanic languages. It originally meant 'to go secretly' or 'to move stealthily', and later evolved to mean 'to take another's property unlawfully'.
Breakdown
Old English 'stelan' → Modern English 'steal'. The root relates to Proto-Germanic '*stelanan', meaning 'to place, put, or go secretly', with the semantic shift from concealed movement to the act of taking something without permission.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My cat steals socks and hides them under the couch like a furry kleptomaniac.”
“The company was accused of stealing trade secrets from its competitors.”
“He tried to steal a kiss, but she dodged faster than a ninja.”
“At only $5, this vintage book was an absolute steal at the garage sale.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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