Definition

1. Noun:

   • A pointed wooden or metal post: A stake is a strong, pointed post that can be driven into the ground, often used to mark a boundary, support a plant, or as part of a structure.
   • A sum of money risked in a bet or investment: A stake is the money risked or invested in a gamble, business venture, or other undertaking.
   • A share or interest in something: A stake can represent a personal, legal, or financial involvement or interest in an enterprise or outcome.
   • A post for execution: Historically, a stake refers to a vertical post to which a person was tied and burned as a form of execution.

2. Verb:

   • To mark or support with stakes: To stake something means to mark its boundaries or support it using pointed posts.
   • To risk or wager money: To stake money means to risk it by betting on an outcome or investing it in a venture.
   • To claim or establish a right or interest: To stake a claim means to assert one's right to something.
   • To kill by impaling: (Archaic) To stake means to kill by piercing with a sharp point or stake.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • He hammered the wooden stake into the ground to support the tomato plant.
  • She has a significant financial stake in the company's success.
  • The political stakes in this election are very high.
  • In the old story, the vampire was destroyed by a stake through the heart.

• Verb:

  • The surveyors staked out the plot of land for the new building.
  • I wouldn't stake my savings on such a risky business idea.
  • The prospector staked a claim to the land where he found gold.

Advanced Usage

• "to be at stake": To be at risk or in a position to be won or lost.

  • The future of the project is at stake if we don't secure more funding.

• "to stake (out) a claim": To assert one's right to something, especially land or an idea.

  • The researcher staked out a claim in the new field of study.

• "to stake one's reputation on something": To risk one's good name or credibility.

  • The chef staked his reputation on this new restaurant concept.

Variants and Related Words

• Stakeholder (n): A person with an interest or concern in something, especially a business.

  • The meeting included all major stakeholders in the project.

• Staked (adj): Describing something that is marked or supported by stakes.

  • The staked area was off-limits to visitors.

Synonyms

• Noun (Post): Post, pole, picket, peg.
• Noun (Bet/Interest): Bet, wager, investment, interest, share.
• Verb (Risk): Risk, wager, bet, gamble, venture.
• Verb (Mark): Mark out, demarcate, delineate.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Stake out:

  • To mark the boundaries of an area with stakes.

    • They staked out the perimeter of the construction site.
  • To place under surveillance.

    • The police staked out the suspect's apartment.

• Stake on/upon: To risk something valuable on the success of something.

  • He staked his entire fortune on the invention.

Related Idioms

• Pull up stakes: To leave one's home or job to go somewhere else.

  • After twenty years, they pulled up stakes and moved to the coast.

• Have a stake in something: To have a personal or financial interest in something.

  • As an employee, I have a stake in the company doing well.

• Go to the stake for/over something: To be willing to defend something passionately, even at great personal cost.

  • She would go to the stake for her beliefs.

Noun

1. a strong wooden or metal post with a point at one end so it can be driven into the ground
2. the money risked on a gamble
3. instrument of execution consisting of a vertical post that a victim is tied to for burning
4. a pole or stake set up to mark something (as the start or end of a race track)
   • a pair of posts marked the goal
   • the corner of the lot was indicated by a stake
5. (law) a right or legal share of something; a financial involvement with something
   • they have interests all over the world
   • a stake in the company's future

Verb

1. kill by piercing with a spear or sharp pole
   • the enemies were impaled and left to die
2. tie or fasten to a stake
   • stake your goat
3. mark with a stake
   • stake out the path
4. place a bet on
   • Which horse are you backing?
   • I'm betting on the new horse
5. put at risk
   • I will stake my good reputation for this