v.
/
ɪkˈsplɔɪt,
ɛk-/
- make use of and derive benefit from (a resource).
- make use of unfairly; benefit unjustly from the work of.
n.
/
ˈɛksplɔɪt/
a bold or daring feat.
Derivative
- exploitable adj.
- exploitation n.
- exploitative adj.
- exploiter n.
- exploitive adj.
Etymology
ME (as n. in sense ‘success, progress’): from OFr. esploit, based on L. explicare (see explicate); the verb is from mod. Fr. exploiter.