rake
B1Neutral to informal (tool and action); archaic or literary for 'dissolute man'.
Definition
Meaning
A long-handled garden tool with a row of tines at the end, used for gathering leaves, hay, or smoothing soil.
A dissolute man of immoral lifestyle; the act of gathering, levelling, or searching with a rake; a slope or angle.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The meanings are polysemous (tool, action, person, angle). The 'dissolute man' sense is from the metaphor of 'raking' through society's rubbish. The 'slope' sense is often used in theatre, aviation, or engineering.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage of the tool and verb are identical. The 'dissolute man' sense is equally archaic in both. 'Rake' as a slope (e.g., 'rake of a stage') is technical but understood.
Connotations
Same core connotations. The 'rake' as a person is a dated literary/period drama term.
Frequency
The garden tool/verb is common in both. Other senses are significantly less frequent.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
rake [OBJECT] (e.g., rake the lawn)rake [OBJECT] + preposition (e.g., rake leaves into a pile)rake + preposition (e.g., rake through the documents)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “rake over old coals/ashes”
- “rake in the money”
- “thin as a rake”
- “rake someone over the coals”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphorically: 'The company continues to rake in profits.'
Academic
Rare. Possibly in historical studies: 'an 18th-century rake'.
Everyday
Primarily gardening: 'I need to rake the lawn this weekend.'
Technical
In engineering/theatre: 'the rake of the auditorium seating'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He raked the gravel path until it was perfectly smooth.
- Detectives raked through the evidence for a new clue.
American English
- I need to rake the yard before it rains.
- The prosecutor raked the witness over the coals.
adverb
British English
- (Not a standard adverbial form. Typically used in compound adjectives like 'rake-thin'.)
American English
- (Not a standard adverbial form. Typically used in compound adjectives like 'rake-thin'.)
adjective
British English
- The old sailor was thin as a rake.
- The stage had a steep rake for better visibility.
American English
- After his illness, he was rake-thin.
- The car's rear wheels have a slight negative rake.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My dad uses a rake in the garden.
- We rake the leaves in autumn.
- Can you rake up the grass cuttings and put them in the bin?
- She raked her fingers through her tangled hair.
- The film portrays him as a charming rake from a bygone era.
- Journalists began to rake over the details of the old scandal.
- The innovative product allowed the company to rake in millions within the first quarter.
- The rake of the stadium ensures an unobstructed view from every seat.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the 'a' in RAKE as the shape of the tool's head gathering leaves into the curve.
Conceptual Metaphor
COLLECTING IS RAKING (rake in money); EXAMINING CRITICALLY IS RAKING OVER (rake over the past); A THIN PERSON IS A RAKE (thin as a rake).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'рак' (cancer).
- The 'dissolute man' sense is not related to the Russian 'рака' (reliquary).
- The verb 'to rake' is not the same as 'to dig' ('копать'). It's a surface-level action.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect verb pattern: 'I raked to gather the leaves.' (Correct: 'I raked the leaves.')
- Confusing 'rake' (tool) with 'rack' (shelf/frame).
- Using the 'dissolute man' sense in modern contexts unironically.
Practice
Quiz
In a historical novel, the phrase 'a young rake' most likely refers to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it has several meanings: a tool, the action of using that tool, a dissolute person (archaic), and a slope or angle.
It means to criticize or reprimand someone severely. A variant is 'rake over the ashes/old coals,' meaning to revisit an unpleasant past event.
A rake has thin tines for gathering loose material like leaves or levelling soil. A hoe has a flat blade used for chopping weeds and breaking up earth.
Yes, in phrases like 'rake through' (e.g., 'She raked through the archives'), it means to search thoroughly and energetically.