rake Hear it!

rake¹ Definition

rake (rāk)

noun

  1. any of various long-handled tools with teeth or prongs at one end, used for gathering loose grass, hay, leaves, etc., or for smoothing broken ground
  2. any of various similar toothed devices oyster rake

Etymology: ME < OE raca; akin to ON reka, spade, Ger rechen, a rake < IE base *reĝ-, to direct, put in order > right

transitive verb raked, rak′·ing

    1. to gather or scrape together with or as with a rake
    2. to make (a lawn, etc.) tidy with a rake
  2. to gather with great care
  3. to scratch or smooth with a rake, as in leveling broken ground
  4. to cover (a fire) with ashes
  5. to scratch or scrape
  6. to search through minutely; scour
  7. to direct gunfire along (a line of troops, the deck of a ship, etc.): often figurative
  8. to look over rapidly and searchingly

Etymology: ME raken < the n.; also in part < ON raka, to scrape, shave

intransitive verb

  1. to use a rake
  2. to search as if with a rake
  3. to scrape or sweep: with over, across, etc.

rake¹ Idioms

rake in

to gather an abundant amount of rapidly

rake up

to uncover facts or gossip about (the past, a scandal, etc.)

rake² Definition

rake (rāk)

noun

a dissolute, debauched man; roué

Etymology: contr. of rakehell

rake³ Definition

rake (rāk)

intransitive verb raked, rak′·ing

to be slightly inclined; slant, as a ship's masts, etc.

Etymology: < ? or akin to Swed raka, to project, akin to OE hrægan, to project < IE base *krek-, *krok-, to project

transitive verb

to cause to slant or incline

noun

  1. a slanting or inclination
    1. away from the perpendicular the rake of a mast
    2. away from the horizontal the rake of a stage
  2. the angle made by the edge of a cutting tool and a plane perpendicular to the surface that is being worked on

rake4 Definition

rake (rāk)

intransitive verb raked, rak′·ing

  1. to fly after game: said of a hawk
  2. to run after game with the nose to the track instead of in the wind: said of a hunting dog

Etymology: ME raken < OE racian, to speed forward: for IE base see rake

rake Synonyms

rake

n.

  1. A debauched person

    lecher, roué, libertine, playboy, profligate, sensualist, seducer, philanderer, womanizer, gigolo, Don Juan, Casanova, Lothario; see also rascal.

  2. A pronged implement

    Types of rakes include: refuse, clam, lawn, garden, York (trademark), gleaning, moss, hay, buck, stubble, weeding, oyster, horse, revolving, sweep, dump, side-delivery; leaf sweeper;

rake Synonyms

rake

v.

  1. To use a rake

    clear up, collect, scratch, gather, scrape, scrape together, clean up, furrow, comb, weed, clear, grade, level, smooth; see also clean, smooth 1, sweep.

  2. To sweep with gunfire

    strafe, machine-gun, blister; see shoot 1.

rake Usage Examples

Object

  • strut: Walls as nave and roof of two bays also as nave but trusses lack raking struts.
  • seating: Studio Theater Seats 150 in raked seating set at the moment in the round.
  • auditorium: Sound and lights are operated from a control position at the rear of the raked auditorium.
  • windscreen: The trademark raked windscreen is claimed to be the largest yet fitted to any coach anywhere.
  • gravel: The serenity of the raked gravel in Zen gardens has inspired a new process, involving repeatedly drawing pencil lines through gesso.

Converse of object

haul: All this whilst hauling a demonstration rake of coaches is a real test.

Adjective modifier

  • spring-tined: Rake gently - a spring-tined rake used upside down works well.
  • spring-tine: Lightly rake lawns with a spring-tine rake to remove old plant debris.
  • grassy: Go left just before the barn and walk northwards uphill along a wide grassy rake.
  • steep: Once in the gap it is possible to exit by the head of a steep rake on its northern side.

Modifies a noun

wielder: And every one and rake wielder aimed at this pay tables have.

Modifying Another Word

steeply: Typical of a vintage model, the legs are steeply raked forward, bringing the wheels a long way forward of the balance point.

Noun used with modifier

  • mast: Have you measured your mast rake to see what it is at the moment with it raked back?
  • hay: The chamfered design of the stretcher is based on the hay rake.
  • lawn: A spring-tine or lawn rake is a different tool altogether.

Possessives

progress: The Rake's Progress: New Adventures In Folk Music " the new portal site for British folk music.

Preposition: in

  • million: It was an immediate success with the public, and in consequence, the state, which raked in millions in revenue.
  • profit: However, Scottish banks continue to rake in the profits from PFI.

Preposition: of

  • wagon: There was a special bogie to couple onto the loco forming rakes of wagons hurtling across the countryside.
  • coach: Most probably the greatest achievement in 1998 has been the painting of the main line rake of coaches.

Browse dictionary entries near rake

  1. ‹ Rajput
  2. ‹ Rajkot
  3. ‹ Rajasthan
  4. ‹ Rajahmundry
  5. ‹ rajah
  6. ‹ raj
  7. ‹ raisonneur
  8. ‹ raison d'être
  9. ‹ raison d'état
  10. ‹ raisin
  1. rake-off ›
  2. rake receiver ›
  3. rakehell ›
  4. raki ›
  5. rakish ›
  6. raku ›
  7. Ralegh ›
  8. Raleigh ›
  9. Raleigh, Sir Walter ›
  10. rallentando ›