burglar

CEFRB1

/ˈbɜːɡlə(ɹ)/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A person who enters a building illegally to steal.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    To commit burglary.

Examples

  • The burglar alarm is activated by movement.

  • The burglar broke into the post office in broad daylight.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
3
Parts of speech
1
Citations
4
Synonyms
2

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meaning

  1. A person who breaks in to premises with the intent of committing theft.

More examples

In context

  • The burglar locked the couple in the basement.

  • The burglar made off with a large diamond from the museum.

  • There’s good reason to worry. In an earlier memoir, “Five-Finger Discount,” Stapinski recreated the terrifying world of swindlers, embezzlers, burglars and mobster wannabes who made up her extended Jersey City family.

Synonyms

Quick test

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A blank broke into the house through the back window while the family was asleep.

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Origin

noun

16th century, from Medieval Latin burglātor, British byform of burgātor (“burglar”), derived from burgō (“to commit burglary”), from Late Latin burgus (“fortified town”), itself probably from Frankish *burg (“fortress”), from Proto-Germanic *burgz, *burgiją (“borough, watch-tower”). The -l- in burglātor may have been inserted under influence from Latin latro (“thief”). The shortened English form may have arisen through confluence with Old French burgeor (“burglar”), itself from the same Latin source.