Definitions

1. noun

A person who steals or commits burglaries, especially one who does so repeatedly or professionally.

“The police caught the thief red-handed and charged him with multiple counts of theft.”

2. verb

To take something by stealth or force, especially in a sudden or unexpected way.

“The thief stole the purse from her handbag while she was distracted.”

3. noun

A device or program that gains unauthorized access to a computer system, especially the internet.

“The company hired a team to combat the thief that had been infiltrating their servers.”

4. noun

A person who steals another’s ideas, especially in a creative field such as music or writing.

“The artist accused the thief of plagiarizing her work without giving credit.”