rake

1 of 5

noun (1)

1
a
: an implement equipped with projecting prongs to gather material (such as leaves) or for loosening or smoothing the surface of the ground
b
: a machine for gathering hay
2
: an implement like a rake

rake

2 of 5

verb (1)

raked; raking

transitive verb

1
: to gather, loosen, or smooth with or as if with a rake
rake leaves into a pile
2
: to gain rapidly or in abundance
usually used with in
rake in a fortune
3
a
: to touch in passing over lightly
4
: to censure severely
5
: to search through : ransack
6
: to sweep the length of especially with gunfire : enfilade
7
: to glance over rapidly
raker noun

rake

3 of 5

noun (2)

1
: inclination from the perpendicular
especially : 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

rake

4 of 5

verb (2)

raked; raking

intransitive verb

: to incline from the perpendicular

rake

5 of 5

noun (3)

: a dissolute person : libertine

Examples of rake in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Through vibrations, the rake becomes an ersatz hand. Chip Colwell, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024 According to the Ledyard Police Department, the Ledyard Emergency Communications Center received a call on Saturday around 10:14 a.m. from a woman who reported that one of her neighbors was digging up her front yard with a rock rake and refusing to leave. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 16 Jan. 2024 Maintain and clean canals and drainage ditches using shovels, hoes, rakes, pitchforks and power tools. Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024 The seating has also been vastly improved: Balcony seats have been arranged at more comfortable angles and the architects have steepened the rake of the auditorium at orchestra level, allowing for improved sightlines — critical for a shorty like me. Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2023 Surface trash might be easy enough to clear with a rake, but the task is more challenging beneath the water. Bobby Caina Calvan, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2023 This set includes a trowel, hand rake, transplanter, pruning shears, and gloves for just $20. Lauren Taylor, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2023 Generally, steel tine rakes are known for lasting longer than plastic rakes; however, this Bully Tools leaf rake flips that narrative. Gabriel Morgan, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Oct. 2023 The main floor is built well below ground, and the vertical rake of the seats puts more fans closer to the action. August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2023
Verb
During the growing season, raking needs to be done to loosen the soil for the seed to settle into. Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 3 Feb. 2024 The production moved up shooting to Saturday, ahead of a major storm that was expected to rake across California from Sunday through Tuesday. Ariane Lange, Sacramento Bee, 4 Feb. 2024 Essentially, the soil loosens itself, eliminating the need for raking. Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 3 Feb. 2024 The image appears to be an aerial view of geographic flux, perhaps a rocky landscape raked by waters from a melting glacier. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2024 The back of the coat is slightly longer than the front, giving our tester just enough freedom to do some yard work (like raking leaves) without any of her movements being restricted. Michelle Rostamian, Peoplemag, 12 Jan. 2024 After raking Baja California Sur, Norma will then make a turn to the east, cross the Gulf of California, and make landfall somewhere along the western coast of mainland Mexico – likely as a tropical storm – by Monday morning. Jason Hanna, CNN, 21 Oct. 2023 The bristles are generally quite soft, but just firm enough to gently rake through hair and comb out any tangles in a matter of minutes — perfect for anyone who doesn’t want to invest much time into their hair routine. Sophie Dodd, Peoplemag, 29 Sep. 2023 Worx Landscaping 26-Gallon Collapsible Yard Waste Bin After so much raking and weeding, all that yard waste has to go somewhere. Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rake.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English racu; akin to Old High German rehho rake

Noun (2)

origin unknown

Noun (3)

short for rakehell

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1621, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1691, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1687, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rake was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near rake

Cite this Entry

“Rake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rake. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

rake

1 of 3 noun
1
: a garden tool with a long handle and prongs at the end
2
: a machine for gathering hay

rake

2 of 3 verb
raked; raking
1
: to gather, loosen, or smooth with or as if with a rake
rake leaves
raking in money
2
a
: to touch in passing over lightly
3
: to search through : ransack
rake the records for evidence
4
: to sweep the length of with or as if with gunfire
raker noun

rake

3 of 3 noun
Etymology

Noun

Old English racu "a tool for gathering up grass or straw"

Noun

a shortened form of earlier rakehell (same meaning)

More from Merriam-Webster on rake

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