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¹steal

verb \ˈstēl\

: to take (something that does not belong to you) in a way that is wrong or illegal

: to take (something that you are not supposed to have) without asking for permission

: to wrongly take and use (another person's idea, words, etc.)

stole \ˈstōl\ sto·len \ˈstō-lən\ steal·ing

Full Definition of STEAL

intransitive verb

: to take the property of another wrongfully and especially as a habitual or regular practice

: to come or go secretly, unobtrusively, gradually, or unexpectedly

: to steal or attempt to steal a base

transitive verb

a : to take or appropriate without right or leave and with intent to keep or make use of wrongfully <stole a car>

b : to take away by force or unjust means <they've stolen our liberty>

c : to take surreptitiously or without permission <steal a kiss>

d : to appropriate to oneself or beyond one's proper share : make oneself the focus of <steal the show>

a : to move, convey, or introduce secretly : smuggle

b : to accomplish in a concealed or unobserved manner <steal a visit>

a : to seize, gain, or win by trickery, skill, or daring <a basketball player adept at stealing the ball> <stole the election>

b of a base runner : to reach (a base) safely solely by running and usually catching the opposing team off guard

— steal·able \ˈstē-lə-bəl\ adjective

— steal·er noun

— steal a march on

: to gain an advantage on unobserved

— steal one's thunder

: to grab attention from another especially by anticipating an idea, plan, or presentation; also : to claim credit for another's idea

See steal defined for English-language learners

See steal defined for kids

Origin of STEAL

Middle English stelen, from Old English stelan; akin to Old High German stelan to steal

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to STEAL

Synonyms: appropriate, boost [slang], filch, heist, hook, lift, misappropriate, nick [British slang], nip, pilfer, pinch, pocket, purloin, rip off, snitch, swipe, thieve, make away with, make off with, run off with, walk off with

Synonym Discussion of STEAL

steal, pilfer, filch, purloin mean to take from another without right or without detection. steal may apply to any surreptitious taking of something and differs from the other terms by commonly applying to intangibles as well as material things <steal jewels> <stole a look at the gifts>. pilfer implies stealing repeatedly in small amounts <pilfered from his employer>. filch adds a suggestion of snatching quickly and surreptitiously <filched an apple from the tray>. purloin stresses removing or carrying off for one's own use or purposes <printed a purloined document>.

Rhymes with STEAL

ceil, chiel, creel, deal, deil, eel, feel, heal, heel, keel, Kiel, kneel, leal, meal, peal, peel, real, reel, seal, seel, shiel, speel, spiel, squeal, steel, Steele, streel, teal, tuille, veal, weal, wheal, wheel, zeal

²steal

noun

: something that is being sold at a low price

baseball : the act of stealing a base

sports : the act of taking the ball, puck, etc., from another player

Full Definition of STEAL

: the act or an instance of stealing

: a fraudulent or questionable political deal

: bargain 2 <it's a steal at that price>

See steal defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of STEAL

circa 1825

Related to STEAL

Synonyms: buy, deal, pennyworth, snip [British], bargain

STEALING Defined for Kids

¹steal

verb \ˈstēl\

stole \ˈstōl\sto·len \ˈstō-lən\steal·ing

Definition of STEAL for Kids

: to take and carry away (something that belongs to another person) without permission and with the intention of keeping

: to come or go quietly or secretly <She stole out of the room.>

: to draw attention away from others <The puppy stole the show.>

: to take or get secretly or in a tricky way <He stole a nap.>

: to reach the next base safely in baseball by running to it when the ball has not been hit in play

: to take (as a ball or puck) from another player

: to take something from a situation

²steal

noun

Definition of STEAL for Kids

: the act or an instance of stealing <He leads the team in steals.>

: ¹bargain 2 <At 20 dollars, these boots were a steal.>

Medical Dictionary

steal

noun \ˈstēl\

Medical Definition of STEAL

: abnormal circulation characterized by deviation (as through collateral vessels or by backward flow) of blood to tissues where the normal flow of blood has been cut off by occlusion of an artery <subclavian steal> <coronary steal>