plunder

/'plʌndə/
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plunder

The pirates hid their plunder in a cave.

Definition

  1. Noun:

    • Goods or money obtained illegally: "Plunder" refers to valuable items, goods, or wealth that have been stolen, especially by force during war, raids, or through other violent or dishonest means.
    • The act of stealing such goods: It can also refer to the act of looting or pillaging itself.

  2. Verb:

    • To steal goods, typically using force and in a time of chaos: The primary meaning involves taking property violently or dishonestly, especially from a place during a war, riot, or disaster.
    • To destroy and strip of possessions: This meaning emphasizes the violent and destructive nature of the theft, often leaving the source ruined.
    • To take (something) illegally or wrongfully: This can extend to non-physical things, like intellectual property, taken without right.
Usage Examples

  • Noun:

    • The pirates hid their plunder in a secret cave. (The valuable stolen goods were concealed.)
    • The museum displayed artifacts that were historical plunder from ancient conquests. (The items shown were taken by force in the past.)

  • Verb:

    • Invading armies would often plunder the villages they captured. (The soldiers would steal valuables from the villages.)
    • The rioters began to plunder the electronics store. (The people involved in the riot started stealing goods from the store.)
    • He was accused of plundering ideas from his former colleagues. (He was charged with wrongfully taking intellectual concepts.)
Advanced Usage

  • "To plunder and pillage": A common paired phrase emphasizing complete and destructive looting.

    • The historical accounts describe how the Vikings would plunder and pillage coastal towns.

  • "War plunder" or "wartime plunder": Specifically refers to goods stolen during a war.

    • The treaty included clauses for the return of all wartime plunder.
Variants and Related Words

  • Plunderer (n): A person who plunders; a looter or pillager.

    • The plunderers fled before the authorities arrived.

  • Plundering (n/adj): The act of plundering, or describing something related to that act.

    • The plundering of the city lasted for days. (n)
    • The plundering army left nothing of value. (adj)
Synonyms
  • Loot (v/n): To steal goods, especially during a riot or war; stolen goods.
  • Pillage (v/n): To rob a place using violence, especially in war.
  • Sack (v): To violently plunder and destroy a town or building.
  • Ransack (v): To search a place thoroughly, causing disorder, often to steal things.
Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

(Note: "Plunder" is not commonly used with particles to form phrasal verbs. Its meaning is typically conveyed alone or with direct objects/prepositional phrases like "plunder from.") - To plunder from (someone/something): To steal goods or ideas from a specific source. - The bandits plundered gold from the caravan.

Related Idioms
  • "To line one's pockets with plunder": To enrich oneself dishonestly with stolen wealth.
    • The corrupt official was found to have lined his pockets with plunder from public funds.
plunder

The pirates hid their plunder in a cave.

Noun
  1. goods or money obtained illegally
Verb
  1. destroy and strip of its possession
    • The soldiers raped the beautiful country
  2. steal goods; take as spoils
    • During the earthquake people looted the stores that were deserted by their owners
  3. plunder (a town) after capture
    • the barbarians sacked Rome
  4. take illegally; of intellectual property
    • This writer plundered from famous authors

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