rak´er

rake¹ «rayk», noun, verb, raked, rak|ing.

–n.

1. a) a longhandled tool having a bar at one end with teeth in it. A rake is used for smoothing the soil or gathering together loose leaves, hay, or straw. b) a machine used to gather mowed hay and place it in windrows.

2. any one of various tools or instruments similar to a rake. A croupier uses a rake to gather together money or chips at a gambling table.

–v.t.

1. to move with a rake: »

Rake the leaves off the grass.

2. to make clear, clean, or smooth with a rake: »

Rake the yard.

3. to gather; gather together.

4. Figurative. to search carefully: »

I raked the ads for a bicycle for sale.

5. to fire guns along the length of (a ship or a line of soldiers).

6. to bring up (something) forgotten or unknown: »

to rake up an old scandal.

–v.i.

1. to use a rake: »

I like to rake.

2. to search with a rake.

3. Figurative. to scrape or sweep: »

The sea rakes against the shore.

╂[Old English raca]

–rak´er, noun.

rake² «rayk», noun.

a person who shamelessly indulges in vice; immoral or dissolute person: »

gambling half the day with the rakes and dandies of the fashionable club (Edith Wharton).

╂[short for rakehell]

rake³ «rayk», noun, verb, raked, rak|ing.

–n.

1. a slant; slope. A ship's smokestacks have a slight backward rake.

2. the inward slant between the leading and trailing edges on the wing tip of an airplane.

3. the angle between a cutting tool and the surface of the work.

–v.i., v.t.

to slant or cause to slant.

╂[origin uncertain]

rake⁴ «rayk», intransitive verb, raked, rak|ing.

1. (of a hawk) to fly along after the game or to fly wide of it.

2. (of a dog) to hunt with the nose close to the ground.

╂[probably Old English racian]