Loot
/luːt/
nounverbB1
Definition
Loot is things like money, valuable objects, or goods taken illegally, usually during a time of chaos like a war or a riot. As a verb, it means to take these things by force or without permission. It often happens when normal order is broken, and people take advantage of the situation.
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See It in Action
Noun: Goods or valuables taken illegally during chaos
- •The rioters took loot from the shops.
- •Police found the loot hidden in a nearby house.
- •The soldiers divided the loot after the battle.
Verb: To take goods by force during disorder or war
- •The army looted the city after the battle.
- •Thieves looted the museum during the blackout.
- •People looted stores when the power went out.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "loot" like "steal," but usually during big events like fights or disasters, not just quietly taking something
- ✓Picture people running through a broken store, grabbing things quickly in confusion
- ✓It's the feeling of someone taking something that does not belong to them when rules are not followed
- ✓Sounds like "loot" → imagine a pirate shouting "Loot the treasure!" and grabbing gold fast
- ✓In stories and movies, pirates or soldiers often "loot" towns after battles, taking valuable things
- ✓NOT like "buy" (which is legal and fair), "loot" is illegal and forceful taking
- ✓NOT like "find" (something lost), "loot" is taken by people actively during disorder
- ✓NOT like "rob" (which is stealing from a person directly), "loot" often means taking many things from places during chaos
Try Other Words
- •Plunder: to take goods by force, especially during war (Use when emphasizing violent or military taking)
- •Rob: to take something from a person or place by force (Use when focusing on direct theft, especially from people)
- •Raid: to attack and take goods quickly (Use when the taking is part of a sudden attack)
- •Steal: to take something without permission quietly or secretly (Use in everyday theft situations)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix; a simple root word)
- •Etymology: From Old Norse "lúta" meaning to bend or bow, later used in Middle English for taking goods by force
- •Historical development: Originally related to bending or yielding, it evolved to mean taking goods by force especially in war or robbery
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe illegal taking of goods during riots, wars, or disasters, both as noun and verb
- •Key insight: Loot always involves taking things quickly and illegally, often when normal rules are broken
Reflect & Connect
•Why do you think people loot during times of disorder or emergency?
•How does the word "loot" differ in feeling and meaning from "steal" in everyday life?
Fill in the blanks
1.During the riot, many people ___ shops because the police were not there to stop them.
2.The soldiers took all the ___ they could carry after winning the battle.
3.Unlike normal theft, ___ usually happens when there is no order or control.
4.The museum was ___ during the blackout, and many valuable items disappeared.
5.People often ___ goods quickly and without care during natural disasters.
6.When police arrive quickly, they can stop people from ___ stores.
7.The word "loot" often shows that the taking is ___ and happens in a chaotic situation.