Definition of defraud

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de·fraud    (d-frôd) KEY 

TRANSITIVE VERB:
de·fraud·ed, de·fraud·ing, de·frauds

To take something from by fraud; swindle: defrauded the immigrants by selling them worthless land deeds.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English defrauden, from Old French defrauder, from Latin dfraudre : d-, de- + fraudre, to cheat (from fraus, fraud-, fraud)

OTHER FORMS:
defraud·ation  (dfrô-dshn) KEY (Noun), de·frauder(Noun)