embezzle Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb appropriate (as property entrusted to one's care) fraudulently to one's own use
    misappropriate; defalcate; malversate; peculate.
    • The accountant embezzled thousands of dollars while working for the wealthy family

WordNet

Em*bez"zle transitive verb
Etymology
Norm. F. embeseiller to destroy; cf. OF. besillier to ill treat, ravage, destroy. Cf. Bezzle.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Embezzled ; present participle & verbal noun Embezzling
Definitions
  1. To appropriate fraudulently to one's own use, as property intrusted to one's care; to apply to one's private uses by a breach of trust; as, to embezzle money held in trust.
  2. To misappropriate; to waste; to dissipate in extravagance. Obs.
    To embezzle our money in drinking or gaming. Sharp.

Webster 1913