stakes
[stˈeks] /ˈstāk How to pronounce stake (audio)/ (ame, mw)
stakes — noun
1. a sharp-ended stick or metal rod that is pushed into the ground to support somet
a sharp-ended stick or metal rod that is pushed into the ground to support something or show a position
Faisal hammered two stakes into the soil beside the young tree.
stake into the ground to support a plant
The survey team marked the field corners with bright orange stakes.
A loose tent collapsed after one stake pulled free in the wind.
Workers tied a warning rope between stakes around the wet concrete.
2. in older punishments, a wooden post where a condemned person was tied before bei
in older punishments, a wooden post where a condemned person was tied before being killed in a fire; also the execution itself
The history book described prisoners being tied to stakes in public squares.
historical punishment use
The film showed the accused woman chained to a stake at dawn.
People condemned as witches were sometimes burned at the stake.
Villagers feared the rebel leader would die at the stake.
用法筆記
Now mainly found in history writing and fixed phrases about past executions.
3. money or ownership that gives someone part of a company, deal, or other business
money or ownership that gives someone part of a company, deal, or other business activity
Isabela sold her stake in the cafe after moving to Tainan.
stake in + business
A Singapore fund bought a 20 percent stake in the chip company.
Lan kept a small stake in the startup even after leaving.
The family trust holds a controlling stake in the hotel chain.
用法筆記
Often refers to financial ownership and can be measured as a percentage.
4. a personal connection to a decision or result that makes someone care strongly a
a personal connection to a decision or result that makes someone care strongly about what happens
Local parents have a strong stake in the plan for the new school.
have a stake in + issue
Noa felt a personal stake in the court case as a tenant.
Because the river runs past their farms, villagers have a stake in cleanup.
Staff members spoke up because they had a direct stake in the merger.
- interest
broader and often less tied to personal involvement
用法筆記
Unlike sense 3, this sense does not require money or legal ownership.
5. money that someone bets and may lose if the result goes against them
money that someone bets and may lose if the result goes against them
Christopher lost his stake on the final hand of poker.
stake on + game result
The app lets players choose their stake before each online match.
choose your stake before a game
Dewi doubled the stake after the first round looked easy.
A low stake made the office pool feel more like fun.
6. what the winner receives at the end of a competition, challenge, or other contes
what the winner receives at the end of a competition, challenge, or other contest
For the young chefs, the real stakes were a week in Tokyo.
plural stakes = prize to be won
On the quiz show, the stakes included a car and free flights.
Everyone in the baking contest could see the stakes on display.
The poster promised high stakes for the team that finished first.
用法筆記
Almost always plural in this meaning.
7. a horse race whose prize money is partly supplied by the owners, often shown by
a horse race whose prize money is partly supplied by the owners, often shown by Stakes in the race name
The colt is training for the Queen's Stakes at Ascot this summer.
Stakes in a race name
Owners entered only three horses in the winter stakes race.
stakes race
Salma read that the Derby Stakes carries a larger purse.
Reporters gathered early for the Prince's Stakes on the wet track.
用法筆記
Usually appears in race names or in the phrase stakes race.
8. a way of comparing people or things by one quality, such as beauty, honesty, or
a way of comparing people or things by one quality, such as beauty, honesty, or price
In the honesty stakes, Nellie easily ranked above the rest.
in the ... stakes = when comparing a quality
The old van loses badly in the comfort stakes on long trips.
This cafe wins in the price stakes but not in taste.
Our guest room wins in the space stakes, but the kitchen does not.
用法筆記
Most common in the pattern in the ... stakes when comparing one feature.
stakes — verb
- stakespresent simple I / you / we / they
- stakeses3rd person singular
- stakesing-ing form
- stakesedpast simple
1. to risk money on an uncertain result because you expect one side to win
to risk money on an uncertain result because you expect one side to win
Hassan staked fifty dollars on the red horse before lunch.
stake + money + on a result
Friends staked small amounts on who could finish first.
The tourists never stake more than they can afford to lose.
A local fan staked ten euros on the away team.
文法句型
stake + amount + on + result
2. to keep a plant or other tall thing upright by tying it to stakes
to keep a plant or other tall thing upright by tying it to stakes
The gardener staked the tomato plants before the heavy rain arrived.
stake + plant to keep it upright
After the storm, workers staked the young trees along the road.
Grandpa staked each bean vine with a thin bamboo pole.
The school groundskeeper staked the sunflower so it would not bend.
文法句型
stake + plant
用法筆記
Most often used for plants, young trees, or other things that bend easily.