noun

rake

rayk

noun

A garden tool with a row of teeth on a long handle, used to gather leaves or debris or to smooth soil.

"He leaned the rake against the shed after clearing the leaves."

A backward slant, especially of a ship's mast or funnel, or of a theatre stage or seating.

"The stage had a slight rake so the back rows could see clearly."

A man who lives a reckless, self-indulgent, and often promiscuous lifestyle.

"The novel\'s hero starts out as a notorious rake before falling in love."

verb

To gather, smooth, or clear something using a rake or a similar sweeping motion.

"She spent the afternoon raking the fallen leaves into piles."

"Investigators raked through old files looking for evidence."

To fire a weapon in a sweeping motion along the length of a target.

"Machine-gun fire raked the length of the trench."

How to Use Rake

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMost commonly the garden tool or the act of using it — but also a slant/tilt, or (in older or literary English) a charming but disreputable man.

Memory tip

If you meet "rake" describing a person in a novel, it almost always means a charming womanizer, not a garden tool.

Trace the full origin ↓

Common pairings

rake leaves garden rake rake in profits a notorious rake

Word Forms

raked past tense, raked past tense, raked past tense, raked past tense, rakes plural, rake plural, raked plural, rakes plural, rakes plural, rakes plural, rakes plural, Rakes plural, rakes singular, rake singular, raked singular, rakest singular, rakedst singular, raketh singular, rakes singular, rakes singular, rakes singular

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He leaned the _____ against the shed after clearing the leaves.

Etymology

From Old English raca/racu, "tool with a row of teeth", from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to straighten" — the "immoral man" sense developed separately, likely a shortening of "rakehell".

Rhymes for rake

ake take make wake cake lake sake bake fake jake Dake snake

See all rhymes for rake →