noun · verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈbɜːɡlə(ɹ)/
General-American:/ˈbɝɡlɚ/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)ɡlə(ɹ)
CMU ARPABET:B ER1 G L ER0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A person who breaks in to premises with the intent of committing a crime, usually theft.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The burglar made off with a large diamond from the museum.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To commit burglary.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: ambitransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
a thief who enters a building with intent to steal
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: thief, stealer
Narrower terms: housebreaker, cat burglar
History
Etymology
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.
Across languages
Translations
83 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Azerbaijani:
evyaran
— Translations
Belarusian:
узло́мшчык
(uzlómščyk)
— Translations
Bulgarian:
крадец с взлом
(kradec s vzlom)
— Translations
Catalan:
lladre
— Translations
Catalan:
espanyaportes
— Translations
Chinese Mandarin:
竊盜 /窃盗
(qièdào)
— Translations
Chinese Mandarin:
竊賊 /窃贼
(qièzéi)
— Translations
Czech:
lupič
— Translations
Dutch:
inbreker
— Translations
Dutch:
inbreekster
— Translations
Esperanto:
domŝtelisto
— Translations
Finnish:
murtovaras
— Translations
French:
cambrioleur
— Translations
French:
cambrioleuse
— Translations
Galician:
ladrón
— Translations
Galician:
ladroa
— Translations
Galician:
garduño
— Translations
German:
Einbrecher
— Translations
German:
Einbrecherin
— Translations
Greek:
διαρρήκτης
(diarríktis)
— Translations
Greek:
διαρρήκτρια
(diarríktria)
— Translations
Ancient Greek:
τοιχωρύχος
(toikhōrúkhos)
— Translations
