stake

See also stakes

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /steɪk/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Homophone: steak

Noun

Singular stake

Plural stakes

1. A stick or rod with a sharp point. A stake is usually hammered into the ground. Often, the stake is tied to rope to connect something (like a tent) to the ground.

   We used four stakes to hold down our tent.

   It is said a stake though the heart will kill a vampire.

   The heretic was burned at the stake. (He was tied to very large stake (a pole) to be burned to death.)

2. If you have a stake in something it is important to you. Usually, this means it will affect you in some way, so you have a good reason to be interested.

   I had a personal stake in hunger relief, since family had no food.

   We all have a stake in finding peace.

   Our company has a big stake in the findings, since we spent a lot of money on the research.

Related words

• stake out
• stakeholder
• at stake
• burn at the stake

Verb

Plain form stake

Third-person singular stakes

Past tense staked

Past participle staked

Present participle staking

1. To put a stake into something. Most often, you would put the stake in the ground, but it could be put in something else.

Related words

• stake a claim
• stake your territory