From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishstakestake1 /steɪk/ ●○○ noun 1 → at stake2 company/business [countable]SHARE if you have a stake in a business, you have invested money in ithold/have a stake in something He holds a 51% stake in the firm.3 → have a stake in something4 money risked [countable] money that you risk as the result of a horse race, card game etc For a dollar stake, you can win up to $1,000,000.5 → high stakes6 pointed stick [countable]D a pointed piece of wood, metal etc, especially one that is pushed into the ground to support something or mark a particular place tent stakes Drive two stakes into the ground about three feet apart.7 → the stake8 → in the popularity/fashion etc stakes9 → (be prepared to) go to the stake for/over something10 → pull up stakes
Examples from the Corpus
stake• She went into business by acquiring a stake in a copper mine in Australia.• This is partly because of the importance of the interests at stake in immigration decisions: personal safety and liberty.• The teacher himself, of course, has his job, his reputation and possibly his marriage at stake.• There was simply too much at stake to leave things to chance.• As part of labor concession agreements with other airlines, the Airline Pilots Association has sought an equity stake in USAir.• The American investor boosted his stake in the company to 15%.• China has a major stake in the project.• Its main partner is Scandinavian Broadcasting Systems, a media firm in which Disney has a 23 percent stake.• The move puts off a decision on the question for at least several months, but it may well raise the stakes.hold/have a stake in something• Dow Jones and Intel also have stakes in Sohu.• Both countries have a stake in using the World Trade Organization and in not allowing trade disputes to poison bilateral relations.• Many have a stake in the present system.• We want all our people to share in growing prosperity and to have a stake in the country's future.• Pharmaceuticals and health-products firms, which have a stake in Medicaid and Medicare reforms, $ 1. 3 million.• The decisions will be made at the appropriate level by those who have a stake in them.• And the more you borrow, the more the bank will have a stake in your success.• They reasoned that, if neither main party won a commanding majority, both would have a stake in negotiating rather than fighting.stakestake2 verb [transitive] 1 RISKto risk losing something that is valuable or important to you on the result of somethingstake something on somebody/something Kevin is staking his reputation on the success of the project. Jim staked his whole fortune on one card game.2 → I’d stake my life on it3 (also stake up)FASTEN/DO UP to support something with stakes Young trees have to be staked.4 (also stake off)MEASURE to mark or enclose an area of ground with stakes A corner of the field has been staked off.5 → stake (out) a claim → stake something ↔ out→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
stake• Others will have already staked a claim with tripods and telescopes.• Shastri died in 1966, and Indira Gandhi staked her claim.• She'd stake her life - and her love for him - on that.• One time he even staked his house on a roll of the dice.• Part of the park was staked off to allow the grass to grow back.• It was in her desperate kisses, the way she clutched at him, her hands roving possessively, staking out claims.• All the meetings seemed to end up the same lately with everyone bickering and staking out political ground.• Long ago Maude and lack had staked out their territories.• He promised Draper and Berry that he would not stake the existence of Virgin on the airline.• I spent the afternoon staking up our tomato plants.stake something on somebody/something• She didn't want to stake her son's future on one doctor's opinion.• Bush staked much on the ability of Gorbachev to continue his reforms.From Longman Business Dictionarystakestake1 /steɪk/ noun1[countable]FINANCE money risked or invested in a businessHe has a stake in some liquid assets that could be used for income or held on to as a safety net.Analysts expect the company to sell its large stake in the HongKong bank.2be at stake if something that you value very much is at stake, you will lose it if a plan or action is not successfulIf we lose the contract, hundreds of jobs are at stake.3[countable] money risked on the result of something, especially a horse raceSYNBETa $100 stake4stakes [plural] used to talk about how much risk there is in a particular activityFor foreign investors, high stakes are involved.5play for high stakes if you play for high stakes, you are in a situation where you gain or lose a lotstakestake2 verb → stake something on something→ See Verb tableOrigin stake1 Old English staca “sharp post” 