Verb: pilfer pil-fu(r)
- Take by theft
"He was going to pilfer the phone someone had left behind";
- hook [informal], snitch [informal], thieve, cop [informal], knock off [informal], glom [N. Amer, informal], boost [N. Amer, informal], cabbage [archaic, informal], purloin [informal], pinch [Brit, informal], abstract [informal], snarf [N. Amer, informal], swipe [informal], sneak [informal], filch [informal], nobble [Brit, informal], lift [informal], nick [Brit, informal], snatch [informal], whip [Brit, informal], blag [Brit, informal]
Derived forms: pilfered, pilfering, pilfers
Type of: rip [N. Amer, informal], rip off [informal], steal
Encyclopedia: Pilfer