ENGLISH
REFERENCE

thieves

n.
US //ˈθivz// UK //θˈiːvz// thieves
  1. 1 people who steal (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    more than one person who steals things from others.

    the irregular plural form of 'thief', referring to multiple individuals who take property without permission.

    Example

    The thieves broke into the shop at night and took all the jewelry.

    Example

    Police believe the thieves entered the building through a skylight, bypassing the sophisticated alarm system before escaping with several high-value paintings.

    Usage

    The plural form is irregular and follows the f-to-v pattern.

    Pitfall
    The thiefs stole my bicycle.
    The thieves stole my bicycle.

    The plural of 'thief' is irregular; you must change the 'f' to 'v' and add 'es'.

Idioms1 entry

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