What does it mean to confiscate something?

To confiscate something means to seize it, often forcibly, which directly aligns with the concept of taking possession of an item without the owner's consent due to legal or regulatory reasons. This action is typically carried out by authorities, such as the police or school officials, when they believe the item is being used improperly or is prohibited. The act of confiscation implies that the item is taken with authority and not returned unless certain conditions are met.

The other options describe different actions that do not reflect the nature of confiscation. For example, giving something willingly suggests a voluntary transfer of ownership, lending temporarily involves allowing someone to use an item with the expectation of its return, and creating a duplicate refers to making a copy of an item rather than taking it away from someone. Therefore, understanding the core meaning of confiscation as seizing is crucial in distinguishing it from these other actions.