exploit
/ˈɛksplɔɪt/ noun, verb
Forms exploits exploiting exploited
- noun A heroic or extraordinary deed.
- noun An achievement. “The first trek to the summit of Mount Everest was a stunning exploit.”
- noun (computing) A program or technique that takes advantage of a vulnerability in other software.
- noun (by extension, Internet, video games) An action or technique that takes advantage of the conditions of a video game to gain an advantage, or to disadvantage others.
- verb (transitive) To use (something) to someone's advantage, such as one's own benefit or a society's benefit. “to exploit natural resources in a sustainable way”
- verb (transitive) To make unfair use of someone else's labor, person, or property to one's own advantage. “Materialistic people who exploit others will come to a bad end.”
Synonyms
Etymology
From Old French esploit (noun), esploitier (verb).
Webster’s 1913
- noun A deed or act; especially, a heroic act; a deed of renown; an adventurous or noble achievement; as, the exploits of Alexander the Great.
- noun Combat; war. [Obs.]
Etymology [OE. esploit success, OF. esploit, espleit,revenue, product, vigor, force, exploit, F. exploit exploit, fr. L. explicitum, prop. p.p. neut. of explicare to unfold, display, exhibit; ex+plicare to fold. See Ply, and cf. Explicit, Explicate.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “exploit”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details