Definition

1. Noun:

   • Extortion of money: The act of obtaining money from someone through threats, intimidation, or the abuse of authority.
   • A thorough search: A very detailed and often invasive search of a person, place, or vehicle, typically conducted by authorities.
   • A period of initial adjustment: A testing or trial period for a new system, organization, or piece of equipment to work out problems and improve efficiency.
   • (Archaic) A makeshift bed: A temporary bed, often made by spreading straw or bedding on the floor.

2. Adjective:

   • Relating to a test or trial: Describing an activity, such as a voyage or flight, that is intended to test a new system under operational conditions.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Extortion):
• Noun (Thorough Search):
• Noun (Initial Adjustment):
• Adjective:

Advanced Usage

• "To run a shakedown": To perform a test or trial operation.
• "To put the shakedown on someone": To extort money from someone.

Variants and Related Words

• Shake down (phrasal verb): To extort money from; to search thoroughly.
• Shakedown artist (noun): A person who habitually extorts money.

Synonyms

• Extortion: The practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats.
• Shakedown (as search): Frisk, search, raid.
• Shakedown (as trial): Test run, trial period, debugging.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Shake down:
  • The mob tried to shake down the new restaurant owner. (To extort)
  • Security will shake down every vehicle at the gate. (To search thoroughly)

Related Idioms

• "Everything is a shakedown": A cynical expression suggesting that many situations are fundamentally about extracting money or advantage.

Adjective

1. intended to test a new system under operating conditions and to familiarize the operators with the system
   • a shakedown cruise

Noun

1. extortion of money (as by blackmail)
2. a very thorough search of a person or a place
   • a shakedown by the police uncovered the drugs
3. initial adjustments to improve the functioning or the efficiency and to bring to a more satisfactory state
   • the new industry's economic shakedown