rake

/reɪk/
verb
  1. To use a rake to gather, smooth, or clear something.
    • He raked the sand on the beach volleyball court.
    • I need to rake the leaves before the rain comes.
    • She raked the soil flat before planting the seeds.
  2. To search or examine something thoroughly, often by moving through it quickly.
    • She raked through her purse looking for her keys.
    • The detective raked the room for clues.
    • The searchlight raked the dark field.
  3. To direct gunfire or a beam of light across a surface from side to side.
    • The spotlight raked the stage, searching for the performer.
    • The lighthouse beam raked the coastline every few seconds.
    • The soldiers raked the enemy position with machine-gun fire.
noun
  1. A garden tool with a long handle and a row of teeth, used for gathering leaves, smoothing soil, or leveling ground.
    • After planting the seeds, she gently smoothed the soil with a rake.
    • The gardener leaned his rake against the shed wall.
    • He used a rake to gather the fallen leaves into a pile.
  2. A man who is immoral or leads a wild, pleasure-seeking life, especially one who is charming but unreliable.
    • She warned her friend not to trust that rake from the city.
    • In old stories, a rake often loses his fortune through gambling.
    • The novel's hero is a charming rake who eventually reforms.
  3. The angle of a slope, especially of a stage floor, a car windshield, or a ship's mast.
    • The car's windshield rake improves its aerodynamics.
    • The stage had a slight rake so the audience could see better.
    • The ship's mast had a noticeable rake backward.