noun
thief
THEEF/θiːf/
A person who steals another person's property.
The thief slips another person's watch into a pocket.
Etymology
Old English þeof already named someone who took another’s property by stealth, so the modern sense preserves its central meaning. The word’s deeper origin is uncertain.
In context
a petty thief with a chip on his shoulder, who's already looking for a fight over some alleged theft.
More examples
- Several thieves entered through the window.
- The witness described the thief's coat.
- The police returned the items taken by the thief.
Forms
thief · thieves
thievery noun — The activity of stealing.