From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishraidraid1 /reɪd/ ●●○ noun [countable] 1 PMa short attack on a place by soldiers, planes, or ships, intended to cause damage but not take control a bombing raid an air raid warning sirenraid on/against The colonel led a successful raid against a rebel base.launch/carry out/stage a raid The army launched several cross-border raids last night. → air raid2 SCPa surprise visit made to a place by the police to search for something illegal a police raid an FBI raidraid on Four people were arrested during a raid on a house in London. a dawn raid (=one made very early in the morning)3 SCCan attack by criminals on a building where they believe they can steal money or drugs a bank raidraid on an armed raid on a shop in Glasgow → ram-raiding4 technicalBFS an attempt by a company to buy enough shares in another company to take control of itCOLLOCATIONSverbsmake a raidPirates often made daring raids on the port.carry out a raid (=make a raid)They were encouraged by the French king to carry out raids upon English ships.launch a raid (=start a raid)Rebel forces launched cross-border raids.take part in a raidThey took part in various raids, including the bombing of Cologne in 1942.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + raid an air raid (=when bombs are dropped from planes)His parents were killed in an air raid.a bombing raidBombing raids had destroyed most of the country's oil refineries.a commando raid (=a raid by specially trained soldiers)There had been two unsuccessful British commando raids.a guerrilla raid (=a raid by a small unofficial military group)From their base in the rainforest they staged guerilla raids on Nicaragua. a night raid (=an attack that takes place at night)The night raids were almost non-stop.a cross-border raid (=across a border between two countries)Cross-border raids into Kenya last year caused a serious diplomatic conflict.
Examples from the Corpus
raid• Raids are almost a nightly occurrence at this club.• air-raid sirens• Detectives managed to catch the gunman who had taken three hostages in a raid on a jeweller's shop.• As a teenager, he was involved in a raid against a village of Omaha Indians.• Police have released a photo of a man they believe carried out a raid on a supermarket.• He used to sleep in the church during air raids so that he could put out the fire bombs.• Some of the most beautiful architecture in the city was destroyed in the air raids.• The United States reacted to the air raids by ordering an aircraft carrier to the gulf.• The police accused the woman of planning a huge armed bank raid in Scotland.• NATO bombing raids• He led a commando raid in the desert.• The law will limit corporate raids on company pension funds.• The smooth-talking Noye was given a 14-year sentence for laundering cash from the Brinks-Mat raid.• Zavala led a series of raids on marijuana plantations.• Another favourite pastime was planning raids on the various apartments and cars owned by their friends.• Seven people were injured in last night's police raid on a house in Brixton, South London.• John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry• Harvard Securities organised a surprise raid on the premises of Tudorbury's new sharedealing floor shortly after its inception.• a surprise raid• Sixty people are thought to have been killed in the raid on the village just west of the capital.air raid• It reminded me of the London tubes during an air raid.• Pastor Braun worked on the books constantly, even with a flashlight during air raids.• There were occasional air raids on Calcutta.• There were several air raid warnings in late July but little damage.• Suddenly the sharp, heavy squall of the air raid siren lashed the silence between them.• The air raids were becoming heavier and more frequent.• Equipment was possibly used to trigger air raid sirens during the Second World War.raid on• They planned a surprise, early-morning raid on the naval base.• Fisher earned $50 million in a successful raid on Emhart Corp.raidraid2 ●●○ verb [transitive] 1 SCPif police raid a place, they make a surprise visit to search for something illegal Police found weapons when they raided his home.2 PMATTACKto make a sudden military attack on a place air bases on the mainland from which the island could be raidedraiding party (=a group taking part in an attack)3 STEALto go into a place and steal things The gang raided three homes in the area.4 to go to a place that has supplies of food or drink and take some because you are hungry Peter went into the kitchen to raid the fridge.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
raid• But before that they used to raid.• Warriors now know nothing of war and cattle raiding.• Police officers raided a house in North London last night, and found substantial quantities of illegal drugs.• Again, the tribe had raided a neighbouring village, inflicting many casualties.• Police raided a pirate video factory in Glendale.• Thieves raided an Italian villa that housed a number of valuable paintings.• A little later, when bankers tried to become retailers of financial services, they raided consumer-goods marketeers.• In 1943, allied bombers repeatedly raided Hamburg.• Police raided its founding conference at a Casablanca hotel, where 40 people were arrested and cautioned.• The Casino nightclub has been closed since it was raided last month.• Sadie would raid the bins for scraps when she could - perhaps her diet of rabbits needed to be supplemented.• In the months that followed, security agents raided the houses of writers and broke up meetings.• At the worst possible moment a brigand named Babbitt raided the shore of Philadelphia from a commandeered ship.• The rebels raided the tiny mountain town early on Tuesday.raiding party• At the home bases of Viking raiding parties?• The raiding party got into the Mercedes and the Ford trucks.• Then, he fears, in will come the helicopters with their raiding parties, hit men and explosives squads.• The following morning, a raiding party sets out into the new territory.• Space for a raiding party was limited, and jolting across the sand perched up on the back was extremely uncomfortable.From Longman Business Dictionaryraidraid /reɪd/ noun [countable]FINANCE an occasion when someone suddenly buys a lot of shares in a company, usually as part of an attempt to take control of itraid onIn a successful raid on Emhart Corp., the Fisher-Getty partnership earned a $50 million investment profit. → bear raid → dawn raidOrigin raid1 (1400-1500) Scottish English Old English rad “ride, raid”; → ROAD 