stakes

stake

S0697500 (stāk)n.1. A piece of wood or metal pointed at one end for driving into the ground as a marker, fence pole, or tent peg.2. a. A vertical post to which an offender is bound for execution by burning.b. Execution by burning. Used with the: condemned to the stake.3. A vertical post secured in a socket at the edge of a platform, as on a truck bed, to help retain the load.4. Mormon Church A territorial division consisting of a group of wards under the jurisdiction of a president.5. Sports & Games a. often stakes Money or property risked in a wager or gambling game.b. The prize awarded the winner of a contest or race.c. A race offering a prize to the winner, especially a horserace in which the prize consists of money contributed equally by the horse owners.6. a. A share or an interest in an enterprise, especially a financial share.b. Personal interest or involvement: a stake in her children's future.7. Something, such as a crucial change or grave consequence, that may result from a situation: The stakes are high in the mayoral election.8. A grubstake.tr.v. staked, stak·ing, stakes 1. a. To mark the location or limits of with stakes. Often used with out: staked out a garden patch.b. To claim, establish, or register as one's own. Often used with out: staked out a mining claim at the office; staked out a place for herself in the library.2. a. To fasten, secure, or support with a stake or stakes: staked down the tent; staked the shrubs.b. To tether or tie to a stake.c. To impale with a stake.3. To gamble or risk; hazard: staked his week's pay on the horse race; staked the campaign on a promise of a tax cut.4. To provide with money; finance: staked him to the money for the tickets.5. Sports To provide a lead for: Her homer staked her team to a two-run lead.Phrasal Verb: stake out1. To keep (a building, for example) under surveillance.2. To assign (a police officer, for example) to an area to conduct surveillance: The police were staked out across the street from the apartment.Idiom: at stake At risk; in question.

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[Middle English, from Old English staca.]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

stakes - the money risked on a gamble bet, wager, stakegamble - money that is risked for possible monetary gainjackpot, kitty, pot - the cumulative amount involved in a game (such as poker)ante - (poker) the initial contribution that each player makes to the potkitty, pool - the combined stakes of the betterspool - any communal combination of funds; "everyone contributed to the pool"