Definition

1. Noun:

   • Informal terms for money: "Loot" can refer to money in a casual or slang way, often implying a large or impressive amount.
   • Goods or money obtained illegally: "Loot" specifically refers to items or money stolen, especially during a war, riot, or disaster.

2. Verb:

   • To steal goods; take as spoils: To steal things, typically during a time of chaos like a riot, war, or natural disaster, often from shops or homes.
   • To take illegally; of intellectual property: To steal ideas, words, or creative work from someone else.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • He made a lot of loot working on Wall Street. (He made a lot of money.)
  • The thieves escaped with their loot. (The thieves escaped with the stolen goods.)

• Verb:

  • During the blackout, people began to loot the electronics store. (People stole from the store during the power failure.)
  • The artist accused the company of looting his designs. (The artist accused the company of stealing his designs.)

Advanced Usage

• "To be on the loot": (slang, rare) To be actively involved in stealing or seeking stolen goods.
• "War loot": Stolen property taken during a war.
  • The museum displayed artifacts that were once war loot. (The museum showed items stolen during a war.)

Variants and Related Words

• Looter (n): A person who steals goods, typically during a riot or disaster.
  • The police arrested several looters after the storm.
• Looting (n): The act of stealing goods during a riot, war, or disaster.
  • The city experienced widespread looting during the crisis.

Synonyms

• Noun (money): Cash, dough, bread (all slang).
• Noun (stolen goods): Plunder, spoils, booty, haul.
• Verb (to steal): Plunder, pillage, ransack, rob.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Loot" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. The action is typically expressed simply as "loot" or "loot from.") - Loot from: To steal goods from a specific place. - The invaders looted gold from the temple. (The invaders stole gold from the temple.)

Related Idioms

• "To divide/share the loot": To distribute stolen goods or ill-gotten gains among the thieves or participants.
  • After the heist, the gang met to divide the loot. (They met to share the stolen money.)
• "Ill-gotten loot": Money or goods acquired through dishonest or illegal means.
  • He was finally forced to return his ill-gotten loot. (He had to give back the money he stole.)

Noun

1. informal terms for money
2. goods or money obtained illegally

Verb

1. steal goods; take as spoils
   • During the earthquake people looted the stores that were deserted by their owners
2. take illegally; of intellectual property
   • This writer plundered from famous authors