rake
/reɪk/ (bre, ipa) · /reɪk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈrāk/ (ame, mw)
rake — noun
1. a long-handled tool whose head has several pointed metal bars, used for gatherin
a long-handled tool whose head has several pointed metal bars, used for gathering leaves or making garden soil flat
Eitan picked up the garden rake and gathered the leaves into a pile.
The metal teeth of the old rake had bent after years in rocky soil.
collocation: rake teeth / rake handle
Before planting seeds, Minh used a rake to spread the soil evenly across the bed.
A heavy garden rake stood against the shed wall next to the watering can.
2. the angle at which a surface slopes away from a straight horizontal or vertical
the angle at which a surface slopes away from a straight horizontal or vertical line, especially the sloping floor of a theatre stage or a roof
The rake of the stage helped the audience see the actors from every seat.
theatre context: stage rake
Tamás measured the rake of the roof to ensure rain would flow off easily.
The slight rake of the gallery floor made the coins roll toward the wall.
Architects designed the theatre with a steep rake so every seat had a clear view.
- slope
a general word for any angled surface; 'rake' is more technical and specific to constructed surfaces like stages or roofs
- incline
more formal than 'slope'; 'rake' is narrower in use and usually refers to the deliberately designed angle of a structure
- gradient
used for roads, railways, and graphs; 'rake' is mainly for stages and architectural features
用法筆記
This sense is most common in theatre and architecture contexts. For a general slope not connected to design, use 'slope' or 'incline' instead.
3. a wealthy or socially prominent man whose behaviour is considered morally bad be
a wealthy or socially prominent man whose behaviour is considered morally bad because he spends his time and money on drinking, gambling, and casual sexual relationships
The duke was a notorious rake who spent his nights gambling at private clubs.
common in historical or literary contexts
In the novel, a wealthy rake falls in love with a poor farmer's daughter.
Historians describe the young lord as a rake who wasted his family fortune on parties.
The character of the charming rake appears in many plays from the eighteenth century.
- libertine
more formal and intellectual than 'rake'; suggests a philosophical rejection of moral rules rather than just indulgence
- playboy
modern and less harsh than 'rake'; implies many romantic partners but not necessarily gambling or drinking
- womanizer
focuses specifically on sexual relationships with many women; 'rake' covers a broader set of immoral behaviours
用法筆記
This sense is dated and literary. It is not used in modern conversation to describe someone in real life. The word appears most often in discussions of historical figures or characters in classic novels and plays.
常見錯誤
rake — verb
1. to search quickly through a container or pile by moving its contents around with
to search quickly through a container or pile by moving its contents around with your hands or fingers, usually because you are in a hurry to find something
Saira raked through the drawer looking for a pen that still had ink.
Kian raked through the pile of old newspapers searching for the winning ticket.
phrasal pattern: rake through + noun phrase
The customs officer raked through the contents of the bag with quick movements.
Yasmin raked her fingers through the sand hoping to find her lost earring.
Michael raked through the cupboard but could not find the baking tin anywhere.
- rummage
similar meaning of searching by moving things around; 'rummage' is usually intransitive ('rummage through'), while 'rake' can be used transitively ('rake a drawer')
- rifle
suggests a more aggressive or invasive search; 'rake' is less forceful and can be neutral
- scour
implies a thorough and systematic search, while 'rake' is quicker and less organised
- organise
to arrange things in order rather than moving them around carelessly
文法句型
rake through + noun phrase
rake + noun phrase
用法筆記
When followed by 'through', the verb is intransitive and emphasises the searching action. When followed by a direct object like 'fingers' or 'coins', it is transitive and describes moving something while searching.
常見錯誤
2. to pull a rake over the surface of soil or grass in order to level the ground, r
to pull a rake over the surface of soil or grass in order to level the ground, remove dead plants, or gather fallen leaves into a pile
Indra raked the fallen leaves into a pile at the edge of the lawn.
Ramón spent the morning raking the soil smooth for the new vegetable patch.
Christopher raked up the grass cuttings after he finished mowing the lawn.
Mira raked the flower beds carefully to remove the old winter leaves and weeds.
文法句型
rake + noun phrase
rake up + noun phrase
用法筆記
The phrasal form 'rake up' is common when the focus is on gathering something into a pile. The simple form 'rake' is more general and can describe smoothing soil or collecting leaves.
3. in baseball, to hit the ball strongly and consistently, achieving good results s
in baseball, to hit the ball strongly and consistently, achieving good results such as many hits, runs, or a high batting average over a period of games
The young player has been raking all season with a batting average over three hundred.
sports slang: intransitive pattern
Sports reporters noted that the shortstop could rake like a seasoned professional.
Fans cheered whenever their star hitter stepped up to the plate and began to rake.
The coach told his team that if they keep raking, they will win the championship.
文法句型
no object
用法筆記
This is baseball slang and is not used outside of that sport. It is almost always used in informal contexts among fans, players, and sports journalists. The verb does not take an object — you cannot 'rake the ball'; a player simply 'rakes'.