Anyone who steals can be called a thief. A robber often uses violence or the threat of violence to steal things from places such as banks or shops. A burglar breaks into houses or other buildings and steals things.
Thieves respect property. They merely wish the property to become their property that they may more perfectly respect itG.K. ChestertonThe Man who was Thursday
ADJECTIVE | ... OF THIEVES | VERB + THIEF | THIEF + VERBADJECTIVE➤would-be想偷東西的人◇The alarm is usually sufficient to deter a would-be thief.警報器通常足以使想要行竊的人罷手。➤common, petty慣竊犯;小偷▸➤professional職業盜賊▸➤master偷竊高手▸➤opportunist, sneak (both BrE) 臨時起意的盜賊;小偷小摸的小偷➤convicted, suspected已被定罪的盜竊犯;盜竊嫌疑人▸➤car, identity, jewel, etc.汽車、身分、珠寶等盜賊... OF THIEVES➤gang一夥盜賊VERB + THIEF➤catch捉住盜賊THIEF + VERB➤snatch sth, steal sth, take sth盜賊搶奪⋯;竊賊偷走⋯◇A thief snatched her handbag containing her wages.一個小偷搶走了她的手提包,裏面裝着她的工資。➤escape with sth, get away with sth, make off with sth盜賊攜帶⋯逃走▸➤break in, break into sth盜賊破門窗闖入⋯▸➤strike (especially BrE) 盜賊洗劫◇The thief struck while the family were out.盜賊趁這家人外出時下了手。
thief ♦︎ burglar ♦︎ robber ♦︎ pirate ♦︎ raider ♦︎ bandit ♦︎ poacher ♦︎ looter ♦︎ pickpocket ♦︎ highwayman ♦︎ shoplifterThese are all words for a person who steals things from another person or a place.这些词均表示小偷、窃贼。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆a professional thief / burglar / robber / poacher / pickpocket◆a suspected thief / burglar / robber / poacher / looter / shoplifter◆a would-be thief / burglar / robber / poacher / looter / pickpocket / shoplifter◆armed robbers / raiders / bandits◆to catch a thief / burglar / robber / poacher / looter / pickpocket / shoplifter◆a thief / burglar / robber / pirate / raider / looter / pickpocket / highwayman / shoplifter takes / steals sth◆a thief / burglar / robber / looter escapes / gets away / makes off with sth◆a thief / burglar / robber strikes somewhere◆thieves / burglars / robbers / pirates / looters raid somewhere◆pirates / raiders / bandits attack sb◆a gang of thieves / robbers / raiders / looters / pickpockets / shoplifters■thief [countable] a person who steals sth from another person or place贼;小偷;窃贼◆A car thief made off with a top director's BMW last night.一个盗车贼昨夜开着一个顶级导演的宝马车逃走了。ⓘ Thief is a general word that can be used to describe any of the people in this group. * thief一词含义很广,可指本组词所表示的任何窃贼。 see also theft ⇨ theft■burglar ˈbɜːglə(r); NAmEˈbɜːrglər [countable] a person who enters a building illegally in order to steal破门窃贼;入室窃贼◆Burglars broke into the gallery and stole dozens of priceless paintings.窃贼破门进入美术馆,偷走了很多幅极珍贵的画作。 see also burglary ⇨ theft■robber [countable] a person who steals from a person or place, especially using violence or threats(尤指用暴力或威胁手段的)盗贼;强盗;抢劫犯◆The prison sentence ended his career as a bank robber.被判入狱终结了他银行抢劫犯的职业生涯。◆an armed robber持械抢劫犯 see also rob ⇨ rob, robbery ⇨ theftNOTE辨析 Burglar or robber?A burglar breaks into a building secretly in order to steal things; a robber usually enters a building such as a shop or bank, and uses violence or threats against the people there in order to steal sth. * burglar是为了偷东西而秘密闯入楼房的窃贼;robber常指进入商店或银行等地方,以暴力或胁迫方式要求别人交出钱财或物品的强盗。■pirateˈpaɪrət [countable](in the past) a sailor who attacked and robbed other ships at sea(旧时的)海盗◆There were reports that a pirate ship had come looking for treasure in the cove.有报道称一艘海盗船曾来这个海湾寻宝。■raider [countable] a person who makes a criminal raid(= attack)on a place袭击者;抢劫者◆A gang of armed raiders held up a bank in the city today.一帮武装分子今天持枪抢劫了那座城市的一家银行。 see also raid ⇨ theftnoun, raid ⇨ robverb■bandit [countable] a member of an armed group of thieves who attack travellers土匪;拦路抢劫者◆Buses driving through the mountains have been attacked by bandits.驶经山区的公共汽车遭到匪徒袭击。ⓘ Bandits usually carry out their attacks in areas that are a long way away from towns or cities, especially in poorer countries. * bandit一般在远离城镇或城市的地区发起攻击,特别是在贫穷国家。■poacher [countable] a person who illegally hunts birds, animals or fish on sb else's property偷猎者;非法捕猎的人◆The measures are designed to protect the fish from poachers.这些措施旨在保护鱼免遭偷捕。■looter ˈluːtə(r) [countable] a person who steals things from shops or buildings after a fire, a riot, etc.(趁火或趁乱等的)抢劫者,打劫者◆Looters carried clothes and electrical equipment out of shop windows.趁乱抢劫者把衣服和电器从商店橱窗带出。 see also loot ⇨ robverb■pickpocket ˈpɪkpɒkɪt; NAmEˈpɪkpɑːkɪt [countable] a person who steals money, etc. from other people's pockets, especially in crowded places扒手;小偷◆Watch out for pickpockets, especially at the train station.小心扒手,尤其是在火车站。■highwaymanˈhaɪweɪmən [countable](in the past) a man, usually on a horse and carrying a gun, who robbed travellers on public roads(旧时常骑马持枪的)拦路强盗◆Lady Sybil's coach was held up by highwaymen on the Plymouth road.西比尔夫人的马车在普利茅斯的路上被拦路强盗抢劫了。■shoplifterˈʃɒplɪftə(r); NAmEˈʃɑːplɪftər [countable] a person who steals goods from a shop by deliberately leaving without paying for them冒充顾客在商店行窃的人;商店扒手◆Shoplifters will be prosecuted.在本店行窃者将被起诉。 see also shoplift ⇨ steal, shoplifting ⇨ theft