stake Definition
stake (stāk)
noun
- a length of wood or metal pointed at one end for driving into the ground, as for marking a boundary, supporting a plant, etc.
- the post to which a person was tied for execution by burning
- execution by burning
- a pole or post fitted upright into a socket, as at the edge of a railway flatcar, truck bed, etc. to help hold a load
- something, esp. money, bet, as in a wager, game, or contest
- a reward given a winner, as in a race; prize
- a race in which a prize is offered
- a share or interest, as in property, a person, or a business venture
- ☆ Mormon Ch. a geographical area made up of a number of wards
- ☆ Informal grubstake
Etymology: ME < OE staca, akin to Frank *stakka: see stick
transitive verb staked, stak′·ing
- ☆
- to mark the location or boundaries of with or as with stakes
- to establish (a claim) in this way: often with out
- to support (a plant, etc.) by tying to a stake
- to hitch or tether to a stake
Etymology: infl. by MDu staken, to fix, place
to risk or hazard; gamble; bet- Informal to furnish with money or resources
- ☆ Informal grubstake
stake Idioms
at stake
being risked or hazarded; in danger of being lost, injured, etc.
pull up stakes
☆Informal to change one's place of residence, business, etc.
stake out
- to station (police officers, detectives, etc.) for surveillance of a suspected criminal, a place, etc.
- to put (a suspected criminal, a place, etc.) under such surveillance
stake up
or stake into close up (or in) with a fence of stakes
stake Synonyms
stake
n.
at stake
pull up stakes*
stake Finance Definition
stake Usage Examples
Object
claim: Spending vast amounts of money to stake a claim in this fledgling market.
Converse of object
- acquire: They offer the chance for employees to acquire a stake in the ownership of the company for which they work.
- raise: Raise the stakes by playing wirelessly against your friends.
- multiply: Should the horse finish first, the punter wins the stake multiplied by the SP of the horse.
- retain: Options include offering shareholder fans the chance to retain a small stake in the club.
- buy: To invest in shares is to buy a stake in the future of UK plc.
Preposition: as
heretic: After many successful battles she was captured and betrayed to the English who burned her at the stake as a heretic.
Adjective modifier
- controlling: Leach steadfastly refused to pitch the idea to the BBC, as they would require a controlling stake in the project.
- wooden: These consisted of ditches with the earth piled up to form a bank into which wooden stakes were driven.
- sizeable: Success will be rewarded with a sizeable stake in the company.
- unlimited: There will not be unlimited stakes and prizes on all of those, of course, because we could not afford that.
- remaining: Mandaric is due to sell his remaining stake in Pompey to joint-owner Alexandre Gaydamak for £ 32m.
Modifies a noun
holder: DfT were hoping to convene a meeting of the stake holders set out in the Forum's road safety report shortly.
Noun used with modifier
- cent: The Spanish company's 50 per cent stake in Bristol Airport could exchange hands for about £ 106 million.
- equity: Once they have agreed a deal with the vendors, only then will they decide on the management's equity stake.
- popularity: Le Lac ( Tignes 2100m ) Le Lac gives Val Claret a run for its money in the popularity stakes.
- percent: Monsanto holds a 26 percent stake in Mahyco, according to published reports.
- minority: European Acquisition Capital have invested for a minority stake.
- glamor: I've been to Barcelona and - just a tinier bit down on the international glamor stakes - Lytham St Annes.
Preposition: for
heresy: Some refused to change and they were burned at the stake for heresy.
Browse dictionary entries near stake
- ‹ staithe
- ‹ stairwell
- ‹ stairway
- ‹ stairs
- ‹ staircase
- ‹ stair
- ‹ stainless steel
- ‹ stainless
- ‹ stained glass
- ‹ stain
- stake body ›
- stake truck ›
- Staked Plain ›
- stakeholder ›
- stakeout ›
- Stakhanovism ›
- stalactiform ›
- stalactite ›
- stalag ›
- stalagmite ›

