- 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: with the
- 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
- [often pl.] something, esp. money, bet, as in a wager, game, or contest
- [often pl.] a reward given a winner, as in a race; prize
- [pl., with sing. v.] 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
Origin of stake
Middle English from Old English staca, akin to Frankish an unverified form stakka: see sticktransitive 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
Origin of stake
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 in)
to close up (or in) with a fence of stakes
