exploit

Universal Words verb, noun verb [VN] 1 (disapproving) to treat a person or situation as an opportunity to gain an advantage for yourself: He exploited his father's name to get himself a job. * She realized that her youth and inexperience were being exploited. * The opposition parties will always exploit government problems to their own advantage. 2 (disapproving) to treat sb unfairly by making them work and not giving them much in return: What is being done to stop employers from exploiting young people? 3 to use sth well in order to gain as much from it as possible: She fully exploits the humour of her role in the play. * Teachers should be exploiting computers in education. 4 ~ sth (for sth) to develop or use sth for business or industry: countries exploiting the rainforests for hardwood * No minerals have yet been exploited in Antarctica. exploiter noun [C] noun [usuallypl.] a brave, exciting or interesting act: the daring exploits of Roman heroes * The papers were full of her latest amorous exploits.