theft

Definitions

1. The act of stealing property.
   countable, uncountable
2. the stealing of whole herds of cattle, as contrasted with a few head. — abactor, n.
3. unlawful removal of goods from where they are deposited or stored.
4. the practice of being a bandit.
5. the practice of pillage, often destructive, usually practiced by a band of robbers. Also brigandage. — brigand, n. — brigandish, adj.
6. murder and robbery committed by dacoits, a class of criminals in India and Burma.
7. a despoiling; an act of robbery on a large scale; pillage.
8. Obsolete, pillage; the act of plundering.
   Obsolete,
9. the misappropriation of funds that have been entrusted to one for care or management. Also called peculation. — embezzler, n.
10. Obsolete, the act of stripping of possessions wrongfully and by force; spoliation or robbery.
    Obsolete,
11. an abnormal fear of robbers.

Equivalents

Examples

“resource theft”

“Bike theft is on the rise⟳.”

“A suspect⟳ was arrested for the theft of a gold necklace.”

“If you steal⟳ a candy bar, you are guilty of theft, regardless of the value. You can't fudge the theft by saying, "But it was only a candy bar," or "I didn't steal⟳ it from a person, but from a rich corporation," or "Everyone steals from the government."”

“That last⟳ problem did intrude on Hazzard’s roamings, and when she refers to the living city it is with periodic references to thefts of cars and wallets, with a warning not to carry⟳ anything “snatchable” by the thieves on motorcycles who whiz through the streets.”

CEFR level