I. ˈrāk noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English raca, racu; akin to Old High German rehho rake, Old Norse reka spade, shovel, Gothic rikan to heap up, collect, and perhaps to Greek oregein to stretch out — more at right
1.
a. : a hand tool consisting usually of a bar with projecting prongs that is set transversely at the end of a long handle and used for gathering grass, leaves, or other material or for loosening or smoothing the surface of the ground
b. : a machine rake for gathering hay — compare dump rake , side-delivery rake
2. : any of various implements resembling a rake or a hoe (as for mixing plaster or scraping hides)
3.
a. : a small steel tool formerly used by hand binders to scratch the backs of books during forwarding permitting glue to permeate deeper and so strengthening the binding
b. : a wire-toothed wooden tool similar to a lawn rake used to make patterns in a bookbinder's marbling vat
4. : a device for studying pressure distribution in a flow field by means of tubes arranged like rake teeth and connected with pressure-indicating devices
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English raken, from rake (I)
transitive verb
1.
a. : to collect, gather, or separate with or as if with a rake
raked the grass from the lawn after mowing
raked the stuff into separate piles
b. : to stir up, loosen, or make even or smooth with or as if with a rake
raked the soil level after spading and seeding
raked the fire and added coal
c. : to clean or purify as if by raking
rake a fatty oil
2. obsolete : to cover over or bury by or as if by raking
3. : to bank (a fire) with cinders
4. : to remove obstructing excrement from the rectum of (a costive horse) with the hand : back-rake
5. : to gain (wealth or possessions) rapidly or in abundance — usually used with in
had raked the cash in night after night for years at a small strategically placed stand
6.
a. : to scrape or scratch as if with a rake : pass over lightly : rub , touch
like clouds that rake the mountain summits — William Wordsworth
the blade raked the other's cheek
b. : to censure severely : attack verbally : administer a dressing down to — often used with over
7.
a. : to search through : scour , ransack
the statesman rakes the town to find a plot — Jonathan Swift
b. : to dig out and present (as unfavorable evidence) — usually used with up
raked up long buried scandal to discredit his enemy
8.
a. : to fire in a direction with the length of : enfilade
blockhouses at opposite corners enabled watchers to rake the walls with rifle fire — American Guide Series: Tennessee
raked each wave of advancing troops with gunfire
b. : to sweep (a length or area) with gunfire, shells, or bombs
raked the area with a dive-bombing and strafing attack — Merle Miller
9. of a falcon : to attack while flying
10. : to glance over rapidly : scan , survey
a three-decker pulpit from which the preacher can rake his congregation from end to end — Charles Gordon
raked the leaden sky with his binoculars — J.E.Macdonnell
11. : to scrape off (loose mortar) preparatory to pointing : remove (green mortar) to a uniform depth from the face of a wall — often used with out
intransitive verb
: to do a task with or as if with a rake : collect , scrape , search
•
- rake over the coals
III. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English raken, from Old English racian
1. chiefly dialect : to move forward especially swiftly : run rapidly
2. chiefly dialect : roam , rove
3. of a hawk : to fly after game
•
- rake out
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English rake, from Old Norse rāk streak, stripe; akin to Old Norse reka to drive — more at wreak
1. dialect England
a. : way , path ; especially : a cattle path
b. : pasture land
2. dialect England
a. : a trip especially for bringing something back : go
b. : as much as can be carried in one trip : load
3. chiefly Scotland : gash vein
V. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: origin unknown
intransitive verb
: to incline from the perpendicular
the roof of the dwelling raked sharply — Willard Robertson
transitive verb
: to cause to incline from the perpendicular
VI. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : inclination from the perpendicular (as of a mast or funnel) ; especially : the overhang of a ship's bow or stern
b. : the slope of a ship's sternpost or of the forepart of the rudder
2. : inclination from the horizontal (as of a stage or auditorium floor)
3. : the angle between the top cutting surface of a cutting tool (as on a lathe) and a plane which is perpendicular to the surface of the work and to the direction of motion of the tool with respect to the work — compare cutting angle , side rake
4. : plunge 4
5. : an inclined edge of a building
the rake of a cornice
the rake of a gable
6. : the angle between a wing-tip edge that is sensibly straight in planform and the plane of symmetry of an airplane
VII. noun
( -s )
Etymology: short for rakehell (II)
: a dissolute or licentious man or woman : libertine
turned his attention to the pleasures of this life and a more perfect rake has seldom existed — Nancy Mitford
VIII. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to act the rake : lead a dissolute or licentious life
swear and rant and rake … with the best of them — George Farquhar