stake

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 [C] a wooden or metal post that is pointed at one end and pushed into the ground in order to support sth, mark a particular place, etc: Tall plants can be secured by tying them to stakes. 2 (the stake) [sing.] a wooden post that sb could be tied to in former times before being burnt to death (= killed by fire) as a punishment: Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake. 3 [C] money that sb invests in a company: a 20% stake in the business * a controlling / majority / minority stake 4 [sing.] ~ in sth an important part or share in a business, plan, etc. that is important to you and that you want to be successful: She has a personal stake in the success of the play. * Many young people no longer feel they have a stake in society. 5 [C,usually pl.] something that you risk losing, especially money, when you try to predict the result of a race, game, etc., or when you are involved in an activity that can succeed or fail: They were playing cards for high stakes (= a lot of money). * With only two points separating the top five players, the stakes are high as they enter the final round. 6 (stakes) [pl.] the money that is paid to the winners in horse racing 7 (stakes) [U] used in the names of some horse races IDIOMS at stake that can be won or lost, depending on the success of a particular action: We cannot afford to take risks when peoples' lives are at stake * The prize at stake is a place in the final. go to the stake over / for sth to be prepared to do anything in order to defend your opinions or beliefs: He would have gone to the stake for his belief in his daughter's innocence. in the...stakes used to say how much of a particular quality a person has, as if they were in a competition in which some people are more successful than others: John doesn't do too well in the personality stakes. verb [VN] 1 ~ sth (on sth) to risk money or sth important on the result of sth: He staked ｣25 on the favourite (= for example, in horse racing). * She staked her political career on tax reform, and lost. * That's him over there-I'd stake my life on it (= I am completely confident). 2 ~ sth (up) to support sth with a stake: to stake newly planted trees IDIOMS stake (out) a / your claim (to / for / on sth) to say or show publicly that you think sth should be yours: Adams staked his claim for a place in the Olympic team with his easy win yesterday. PHRASALVERBS stake sth<->out 1 to clearly mark the limits of sth that you claim is yours 2 to state your opinion, position, etc. on sth very clearly: The President staked out his position on the issue. 3 to watch a place secretly, especially for signs of illegal activity: Detectives had been staking out the house for several weeks. relatednounSTAKE-OUT