rake

plural rakes

1. agricultureA garden tool with a row of pointed teeth fixed to a long handle, used for collecting debris, grass, etc., for flattening the ground, or for loosening soil; also, a similar wheel-mounted tool drawn by a horse or a tractor.

   Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded it got to the bury, and, struggling in, the arrow caught the side of the hole and was drawn out. […] Ikey the blacksmith had forged us a spearhead after a sketch from a picture of a Greek warrior; and a rake-handle served as a shaft.

   1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], “The Old Punt: A Curious ‘Turnpike’”, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC, pages 19–20

   Synonyms: horserake

2. A similarly shaped tool used for other purposes.
   1. broadlygamblingA tool with a straight edge at the end used by a croupier to move chips or money across a gaming table.
   2. broadlyA type of lockpick that has a ridged or notched blade that moves across the pins in a pin tumbler lock, causing them to settle into a shear line.
3. cellular automataA type of puffer train that leaves behind a stream of spaceships as it moves.

   That would mean building rake guns or glider gun arrays to construct moving walls.

   2003 August 19, Ilmari Karonen, “Inquiries about Conway's game of life”, in comp.theory.cell-automata (Usenet)

   2 more examples

   I've been dealing primarily with rake and spaceship interactions for ease of experimentation (a rake will invariably escape before being eaten by even its most hellish progeny, and a spaceship is easy to redraw on the spot).

   1991 January 10, Paul Callahan, “Questions and comments about Conway's Life (long)”, in comp.theory.cell-automata (Usenet)

   The switch engine is unstable but a number of them working in combination can form stable puffers, spaceships and rakes.

   2015, Paul Rendell, Turing Machine Universality of the Game of Life, page 133

4. collectiveA group of mules.

   Plus, his ever-increasing rake of mules were outgrowing the small parcel of acreage he had inherited in Tennessee.

   2020, Barbara L. Wyckoff, Who Was Victoria Silkee

   2 more examples

   making the total payload of a typical rake of mules about 20 times greater than that of even the strongest flameme.

   2003, Mexico and the United States: Politics, local - Zoot suit riots, Marshall Cavendish, page 830

   But not to trouble the reader with a farther account of the particulars of this melancholy part of our journey; I shall only fay, that with infinite toil and danger, and by the assistance of God Almighty, we overcame all difficulty, and at last got clear of the dismal and inhofpitable mountains of Nicaragua, and paffed by the fide of a favanna, on a rifing ground, where two rakes of mules were grazing.

   1794, John Cockburn, The Unfortunate Englishmen: or, a Faithful narrative of the distresses and adventures of John Cockburn, and five other English mariners ..., Hamilton & Company, page 69

present singular third person rakes · participle present raking · participle past raked · past raked · first person past singular raked · archaic present second person singular rakest · past second person singular raked · archaic past second person singular rakedst · present singular third person rakes · archaic present singular third person raketh · past singular third person raked · past plural raked · past subjunctive raked · participle present raking · participle past raked

1. To act upon with a rake, or as if with a rake.

   We raked all the leaves into a pile.

   1 more example

   She is raking the gravel path to keep it even.

   1. alsofigurativelytransitiveOften followed by in: to gather (things which are apart) together, especially quickly.

      The casino is just raking in the cash; it’s like a licence to print money.

   2. transitiveOften followed by an adverb or preposition such as away, off, out, etc.: to drag or pull in a certain direction.
   3. ambitransitivefigurativelyTo claw at; to scrape, to scratch; followed by away: to erase, to obliterate.

      The cat’s sharp claws raked the side of my face.

      2 more examples

      Pas could not stay, but over him did rake, / And crown'd the earth with his first touching crowne: [...]

      The New Arcadia

      c. 1580 (date written), Philip Sidney, “(please specify the folio)”, in [Mary Sidney], editor, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia […] [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1593, →OCLC

      Like clouds that rake the mountain-summits, / Or waves that own no curbing hand, / How fast has brother followed brother, / From sunshine to the sunless land!

      1835 November 30 (date written), William Wordsworth, “Extempore Effusion upon the Death of James Hogg”, in Henry [Hope] Reed, editor, The Complete Poetical Works of William Wordsworth, Philadelphia, Pa.: Hayes & Zell, […], published 1860, →OCLC, page 286, column 2

   4. ambitransitivefigurativelyFollowed by up: to bring up or uncover (something), as embarrassing information, past misdeeds, etc.
   5. ambitransitivefigurativelyTo search through (thoroughly).

      The statesman rakes the town to find a plot, / And dreams of forfeitures by treason got.

      1724, Jonathan Swift, “On Dreams. An Imitation of Petronius.”, in Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, editors, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, […], new edition, volume VII, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1801, →OCLC, page 271

      2 more examples

      [...] I have added to both of them [language and poetry] in the choice of Words, and Harmony of Numbers which were wanting, [...] One is for raking in [Geoffrey] Chaucer (our Engliſh Ennius) for antiquated Words, which are never to be reviv'd, but when Sound or Significancy is wanting in the preſent Language.

      1697, Virgil, “Postscript to the Reader”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 621

      Jack's gaze raked the room, searching for some indication that something was wrong, that someone was going to suddenly spring forward and grab her.

      2003 March, Karyn Monk, The Wedding Escape, New York, N.Y.: Bantam Books, →ISBN, page 96

      Synonyms: comb, comb through, go over with a fine-tooth comb, scour

   6. alsoambitransitivefigurativelyTo move (a beam of light, a glance with the eyes, etc.) across (something) with a long side-to-side motion; specifically (often military) to use a weapon to fire at (something) with a side-to-side motion; to spray with gunfire.

      The enemy machine guns raked the roadway.

      2 more examples

      George took the glass again and raked the vessel. "How she does pitch!" he said.

      1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC

      Armor-piercing shells were heading up the shell hoists, but this procedure took a few minutes, allowing the battered American flagship to reply in kind, the gunners somewhat motivated to set new records for the rate of fire as the cruiser raked the larger ship from stem to stern in response.

      2021 March 10, Drachinifel, 17:51 from the start, in Guadalcanal Campaign - The Big Night Battle: Night 1 (IJN 3(?) : 2 USN), archived from the original on 17 Oct 2022

   7. alsoambitransitivefigurativelygovernmentTo fire upon an enemy vessel from a position in line with its bow or stern, causing one's fire to travel through the length of the enemy vessel for maximum damage.
   8. IrelandNorthern EnglandScotlandalsofigurativelytransitiveTo cover (something) by or as if by raking things over it.
   9. To pick (a lock) with a rake.

plural rakes

1. The act of raking.
2. Something that is raked.
   1. A share of profits, takings, etc., especially if obtained illegally; specifically (gambling) the scaled commission fee taken by a cardroom operating a poker game.
   2. IrelandScotlandslangA lot, plenty.

      Jim has had a rake of trouble with his new car.

plural rakes

1. Northern EnglandalsofigurativelyclimbingA course, a path, especially a narrow and steep path or route up a hillside.
2. businessA fissure or mineral vein of ore traversing the strata vertically, or nearly so.
3. ScotlandUKA series, a succession; specifically (rail transport) a set of coupled rail vehicles, normally coaches or wagons.

   The train was formed of a locomotive and a rake of six coaches.

   1 more example

   On February 21 Class "O4/1" 2-8-0 No. 63635 passed through Manchester (Victoria) heading in the Rochdale direction with a rake of empty wagons.

   1959 April, “Motive Power Miscellany: London Midland Region”, in Trains Illustrated, London: Ian Allan Publishing, →OCLC, page 222

   Synonyms: consist

4. MidlandsNorthern EnglandalternativeAlternative spelling of raik (“a course, a way; pastureland over which animals graze; a journey to transport something between two places; a run; also, the quantity of items so transported”).

present singular third person rakes · participle present raking · participle past raked · past raked

1. alternativeAlternative spelling of raik (“(intransitive, Midlands, Northern England, Scotland) to walk; to roam, to wander; of animals (especially sheep): to graze; (transitive, chiefly Scotland) to roam or wander through (somewhere)”)

present singular third person rakes · participle present raking · participle past raked · past raked

1. MidlandsNorthern EnglandScotlandintransitiveTo move swiftly; to proceed rapidly.
2. intransitivefalconryOf a bird of prey: to fly after a quarry; also, to fly away from the falconer, to go wide of the quarry being pursued.

plural rakes · alternative raik

1. ScotlandRate of progress; pace, speed.

present singular third person rakes · participle present raking · participle past raked · past raked

1. ambitransitiveTo incline (something) from a perpendicular direction.

   A mast rakes aft.

   Synonyms: slope

2. Senses relating to watercraft.
   1. transitivenauticalTo provide (the bow or stern of a watercraft) with a rake (“a slant that causes it to extend beyond the keel”).
   2. intransitiverarenauticalOf a watercraft: to have a rake at its bow or stern.

plural rakes

1. A divergence from the horizontal or perpendicular; a slant, a slope.
2. specificallyIn full, angle of rake or rake angle: the angle between the edge or face of a tool (especially a cutting tool) and a plane (usually one perpendicular to the object that the tool is being applied to).
3. geographyThe direction of slip during the movement of a fault, measured within the fault plane.
4. Senses relating to watercraft.
   1. nauticalA slant that causes the bow or stern of a watercraft to extend beyond the keel; also, the upper part of the bow or stern that extends beyond the keel.
   2. nauticalA slant of some other part of a watercraft (such as a funnel or mast) away from the perpendicular, usually towards the stern.
5. businessThe sloped edge of a roof at or adjacent to the first or last rafter.

plural rakes

1. A person (usually a man) who is stylish but habituated to hedonistic and immoral conduct.

   I have no choice but to take up the foil once again and vanquish this rake.

   2009, The Onion, 2:27 from the start, in Bad Boy Fencing Star Implicated In Yet Another Jewel Heist, spoken by Reggie Greengrass (Beau Baxtor)

   4 more examples

   We have now and then rakes in the habit of Roman senators, and grave politicians in the dress of rakes. The misfortune of the thing is, that people dress themselves in what they have a mind to be, and not what they are fit for.

   1711 March 26 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “THURSDAY, March 16, 1710–1711”, in The Spectator, number 14; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume I, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 151

   For honest men delight will take, / To shew you favour for his sake, / Will flatter you; and Fool and Rake / Your steps pursue: / And of your Father's name will make / A snare for you.

   1807, William Wordsworth, “Address to the Sons of Burns after Visiting Their Father’s Grave, Aug. 14th, 1803”, in Poems, in Two Volumes, volume II, London: […] Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, […], →OCLC, stanza 3, page 30

   "He was a big old rake, full of marks and scars, and he had only an ear and a half."

   1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 77

   I am fully subscribed to the belief that reformed rakes make the very best of husbands.

   2020 December 25, Chris Van Dusen, “Diamond of the First Water”, in Bridgerton, season 1, episode 1, spoken by Violet Bridgerton

   Synonyms: roué, adulterer, bed-hopper, carpetmonger, chamberer, debauchee, debaucher, fornicator

present singular third person rakes · participle present raking · participle past raked · past raked

1. datedintransitiverareTo behave as a rake; to lead a hedonistic and immoral life.

   When women hid their necks , and veil'd their faces , Nor romp'd , nor raked , nor stared at public places

   1758, William Shenstone, Epilogue to Cleone

   Synonyms: blissom, chamber, colt, gill, harlot, harlotize, minx, rig

plural Rakes · alternative Raikes

1. countableuncountableA surname.
2. countableuncountableA village in Rogate parish, Chichester district, West Sussex, England (OS grid ref SU8027).
3. countableuncountableA small town in Winnebago County, Iowa, United States, named after a pioneer citizen.