exploit Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a notable achievement
    effort; feat.
    • he performed a great feat
    • the book was her finest effort
  2. verb use or manipulate to one's advantage
    work.
    • He exploit the new taxation system
    • She knows how to work the system
    • he works his parents for sympathy
  3. verb draw from; make good use of
    tap.
    • we must exploit the resources we are given wisely
  4. verb work excessively hard
    overwork.
    • he is exploiting the students

WordNet

Ex*ploit" noun
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.
Definitions
  1. A deed or act; especially, a heroic act; a deed of renown; an adventurous or noble achievement; as, the exploits of Alexander the Great.
    Ripe for exploits and mighty enterprises. Shak.
  2. Combat; war. Obs.
    He made haste to exploit some warlike service. Holland.
  3. F. exploiter. To utilize; to make available; to get the value or usefulness out of; as, to exploit a mine or agricultural lands; to exploit public opinion. Recent
  4. Hence: To draw an illegitimate profit from; to speculate on; to put upon. Recent
    In no sense whatever does a man who accumulates a fortune by legitimate industry exploit his employés or make his capital "out of" anybody else. W. G. Sumner.

Webster 1913