rape Hear it!

rape1 definition

rape (rāp)

noun

    1. the crime of engaging in sexual acts, esp. involving penetration of the vagina or anus, usually forcibly, with a person who has not consented; specif., this crime committed by a man upon a woman or girl
    2. statutory rape
  2. Now Rare the act of seizing and carrying away by force
  3. the plundering or violent destruction (of a city, etc.), as in warfare
  4. any outrageous assault or flagrant violation

Etymology: ME, prob. < the v.

transitive verb raped, raping rap′·ing

  1. Now Rare to seize and carry away by force
  2. to commit rape on; violate
  3. to plunder or destroy

Etymology: ME rapen < L rapere, to seize < IE base *rep-, to seize > ON refsa, to punish, OE repsan, to reprove

intransitive verb

to commit rape
rape2 definition

rape (rāp)

noun

an annual Old World plant (Brassica napus) of the crucifer family, whose seeds yield an oil and whose leaves are used for fodder

Etymology: ME < L rapa, rapum, turnip < IE base *rap- > Ger rübe, beet, Gr rhapys, rhaphys

rape3 definition

rape (rāp)

noun

the crushed pulp of grapes after the juice has been extracted

Etymology: Fr râpe < ML raspa, ult. < or akin to OHG raspon, to scrape together: see rasp

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

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.