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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, raking rak′·ing

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

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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