rake
[verb]
Synonyms:
- gather, collect, remove
- search, comb, scour, scrutinize
————————
[noun]
libertine, debauchee, lecher, playboy, roué

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. rake¹ /reɪk/ noun
[Sense 1-2: Language: Old English; Origin: racu]
[Sense 3: Date: 1600-1700; Origin: Origin unknown]

1. [countable] 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:
a garden rake

2. [countable] old-fashioned a man who has many sexual relationships, drinks too much alcohol etc

3. [singular] the angle of a slope:
the rake of the stage

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. rake² verb

1. [intransitive and transitive] to move a rake across a surface in order to make the soil level, gather dead leaves etc
rake something over/up
She raked the soil over to loosen the weeds.

2. [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to search a place very carefully for something
rake through/around
I’ve been raking through my drawers looking for those tickets.

3. [transitive] to point something such as a gun, camera, or strong light, and keep moving it across an area Synonym : sweep:
The searchlight raked the open ground around the prison.
rake something with something
They raked the room with gunfire.

4. [transitive] to push a stick backwards and forwards in a fire in order to remove ashes

5. rake over the past/old coals to keep talking about something that happened in the past that people would prefer you not to mention

6. rake your fingers (through something) to pull your fingers through something or across a surface:
Ken raked his fingers through his hair.
rake something ↔ in phrasal verb informal
to earn a lot of money without trying very hard:
Lou’s been raking in the dollars since he opened his business.
If someone opened a burger bar, they’d really rake it in.
rake something ↔ up phrasal verb informal

1. to talk about something from the past that people would prefer you not to mention Synonym : dredge up:
It upsets Dad when that story is raked up again.

2. (also rake something ↔ together) to collect things or people together for a purpose, but with difficulty:
They could only rake up $300.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲