I. rape 1 /reɪp/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: rapere 'to seize' ]
to force someone to have sex, especially by using violence ⇨ rapist :
She had been raped and stabbed.
II. rape 2 BrE AmE noun
[ Sense 1,3: Date: 1400-1500 ; Origin: ⇨ ↑ rape 1 ]
[ Sense 2: Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: rapa ]
1 . [uncountable and countable] the crime of forcing someone to have sex, especially by using violence:
Police are investigating a series of violent rapes in the town.
He was arrested and charged with rape.
He always denied that he was guilty of rape.
a rape victim
the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl
He was convicted of attempted rape.
2 . [uncountable] ( also oilseed rape ) a European plant with yellow flowers, grown as animal food and for its oil SYN canola American English
3 . the rape of something the unnecessary destruction of something, especially the environment:
companies which profit from the rape of the Earth
• • •
THESAURUS
■ violent crimes
▪ assault noun [uncountable and countable] the crime of physically attacking someone:
He was arrested for an assault on a policeman.
▪ mugging noun [uncountable and countable] the crime of attacking and robbing someone in a public place:
Muggings usually happen at night.
▪ murder noun [uncountable and countable] the crime of deliberately killing someone:
He is accused of the murder of five women.
▪ homicide noun [uncountable and countable] especially American English law murder:
Homicide rates are rising fastest amongst 15 to19-year-olds.
▪ rape noun [uncountable and countable] the crime of forcing someone to have sex:
In most cases of rape, the victim knows her attacker.