steal

1. (transitive) To take illegally, or without the owner's permission, something owned by someone else without intending to return it.Examples: "Three irreplaceable paintings were stolen from the gallery."; "The problem is the two bicycles stolen from us."; "They stole all my money (from me)."transitive

2. (transitive, of ideas, words, music, a look, credit, etc.) To appropriate without giving credit or acknowledgement.Examples: "They stole my idea for a biodegradable, disposable garbage de-odorizer."transitiveusually

3. (transitive) To get or effect surreptitiously or artfully.Examples: "He stole glances at the pretty woman across the street."; "Variety of objects has a tendency to steal away the mind too often from its steady pursuit of any subject."; "Always, when thou changest thine opinion or course, profess it plainly,[…]and do not think to steal it."transitive

4. (transitive, informal, figurative) To acquire at a low price.Examples: "He stole the car for two thousand less than its book value."; "He got that car for two grand under book? Wow, he stole that thing!"figurativelyinformaltransitive

5. (transitive) To draw attention unexpectedly in (an entertainment), especially by being the outstanding performer. Usually used in the phrase steal the show.transitive

6. (intransitive) To move silently or secretly.Examples: "He stole across the room, trying not to wake her."; "At length, one night, when the company by ſome accident broke up much ſooner than ordinary, ſo that the candles were not half burnt out, ſhe was not able to reſiſt the temptation, but reſolved to have them ſome way or other. Accordingly, as ſoon as the hurry was over, and the ſervants, as ſhe thought, all gone to ſleep, ſhe ſtole out of her bed, and went down ſtairs, naked to her ſhift as ſhe was, with a deſign to ſteal them[…]."; ""Did he take his bottle well?" Mrs. Flanders whispered, and Rebecca nodded and went to the cot and turned down the quilt, and Mrs. Flanders bent over and looked anxiously at the baby, asleep, but frowning. The window shook, and Rebecca stole like a cat and wedged it."Synonyms: sneakintransitive