4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Stake  \Stake\,  n.  (Mormon  Ch.) 
  A  territorial  division;  --  called  also  {stake  of  Zion}. 
 
  Every  city,  or  ``stake,''  including  a  chief  town  and 
  surrounding  towns,  has  its  president,  with  two 
  counselors;  and  this  president  has  a  high  council  of 
  chosen  men.  --Schaff-Herzog 
  Encyc. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Stake  \Stake\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Staked};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Staking}.] 
  1.  To  fasten,  support,  or  defend  with  stakes;  as  to  stake 
  vines  or  plants. 
 
  2.  To  mark  the  limits  of  by  stakes;  --  with  out  as  to  stake 
  out  land;  to  stake  out  a  new  road. 
 
  3.  To  put  at  hazard  upon  the  issue  of  competition,  or  upon  a 
  future  contingency;  to  wager;  to  pledge. 
 
  I'll  stake  yon  lamb,  that  near  the  fountain  plays. 
  --Pope. 
 
  4.  To  pierce  or  wound  with  a  stake.  --Spectator. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Stake  \Stake\,  n.  [AS.  staca,  from  the  root  of  E.  stick;  akin  to 
  OFries  &  LG  stake,  D.  staak,  Sw  stake,  Dan.  stage.  See 
  {Stick},  v.  t.,  and  cf  {Estacade},  {Stockade}.] 
  1.  A  piece  of  wood,  usually  long  and  slender,  pointed  at  one 
  end  so  as  to  be  easily  driven  into  the  ground  as  a  support 
  or  stay;  as  a  stake  to  support  vines,  fences,  hedges, 
  etc 
 
  A  sharpened  stake  strong  Dryas  found  --Dryden. 
 
  2.  A  stick  inserted  upright  in  a  lop,  eye,  or  mortise,  at  the 
  side  or  end  of  a  cart,  a  flat  car  or  the  like  to  prevent 
  goods  from  falling  off 
 
  3.  The  piece  of  timber  to  which  a  martyr  was  affixed  to  be 
  burned;  hence  martyrdom  by  fire. 
 
  4.  A  small  anvil  usually  furnished  with  a  tang  to  enter  a 
  hole  in  a  bench  top  --  used  by  tinsmiths,  blacksmiths, 
  etc.,  for  light  work  punching  upon  etc 
 
  5.  That  which  is  laid  down  as  a  wager;  that  which  is  staked 
  or  hazarded;  a  pledge. 
 
  {At  stake},  in  danger;  hazarded;  pledged.  ``I  see  my 
  reputation  is  at  stake.''  --Shak. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  stake 
  n  1:  a  right  or  legal  share  of  something  a  financial  involvement 
  with  something  "they  have  interests  all  over  the 
  world";  "a  stake  in  the  company's  future"  [syn:  {interest}] 
  2:  a  pole  or  stake  set  up  to  mark  something  (as  the  start  of  a 
  race  track)  [syn:  {post}] 
  3:  a  vertical  post  that  a  victim  is  tied  to  for  execution  by 
  burning 
  4:  the  money  risked  on  a  gamble  [syn:  {stakes},  {bet},  {wager}] 
  v  1:  put  at  risk;  "I  will  stake  my  good  reputation  for  this" 
  [syn:  {venture},  {hazard},  {adventure},  {jeopardize}] 
  2:  place  a  bet  on  "Which  horse  are  you  backing?"  "I'm  betting 
  on  the  new  horse"  [syn:  {bet  on},  {back},  {gage},  {game}, 
  {punt}] 
  3:  mark  with  a  stake;  "stake  out  the  path"  [syn:  {post}] 
  4:  tie  or  fasten  to  a  stake;  "stake  your  goat" 
  5:  kill  by  piercing  with  a  spear  or  sharp  pole;  "the  enemies 
  were  impaled  and  left  to  die"  [syn:  {impale}] 

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