rake

1 noun

1 (C) a gardening tool with a row of metal teeth at the end of a long handle, used for making soil level, gathering up dead leaves etc

2 (C) old-fashioned a man who behaves in an unacceptable way, having many sexual relationships, drinking too much alcohol etc

3 (C) a tool used by a croupier for gathering in the money at a table where games are played for money

4 (singular) the angle of a slope: the rake of the stage

2 verb

1 (I, T) to move a rake across a surface in order to make the soil level, gather dead leaves etc

(+ over/up): She raked over the soil to loosen the weeds.

2 (intransitive always + adv/prep) to search a place very carefully for something

(+ through/around/about): I've been raking through my drawers looking for those tickets.

3 (T) to point something such as a gun, camera, or strong light, so that it covers a wide area, by slowly moving it from one side to another: The searchlight raked the open ground around the prison.

4 rake a fire/ashes/coals to push a stick backwards and forwards in a fire in order to remove ashes

5 rake your fingers/nails to pull your fingers or nails through something or across a surface: Ken raked his fingers through his hair.

rake sth in phrasal verb (T) informal to earn a lot of money without trying very hard: Lou's been raking in the dollars since he opened his business. | rake it in: If someone opened a burger bar, they'd really rake it in. rake sth up phrasal verb (T) informal

1 also rake together to collect things or people together for a purpose, but with difficulty: Karen has had real problems raking up enough players for the volleyball game. | Between them they could only rake together $300.

2 to talk about something from the past that people would prefer you not to mention: Don't rake up that old quarrel again!