[rake] n [ME, fr. OE racu; akin to OHG rehho rake] (bef. 12c) 1 a: an implement equipped with projecting prongs to gather material (as leaves) or for loosening or smoothing the surface of the ground b: a machine for gathering hay
2: an implement like a rake
[2]rake vt raked ; rak.ing (13c) 1: to gather, loosen, or smooth with or as if with a rake
2: to gain rapidly or in abundance "~ in a fortune" 3 a: to touch in passing over lightly b: scratch
4: to censure severely
5: to search through: ransack
6: to sweep the length of esp. with gunfire: enfilade 7: to glance over rapidly -- rak.er n [3]rake n [origin unknown] (1626) 1: inclination from the perpendicular; esp: the overhang of a ship's bow or stern
2: inclination from the horizontal: slope
3: the angle between the top cutting surface of a tool and a plane perpendicular to the surface of the work
4: the angle between a wing-tip edge that is sensibly straight in planform and the plane of symmetry of an airplane [4]rake vi raked ; rak.ing (1691): to incline from the perpendicular [5]rake n [short for rakehell] (1653): a dissolute person: libertine