Rake Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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rake

[reɪk ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

gardening

A long-handled tool with a row of teeth at the end, used for gathering fallen leaves or smoothing the surface of the soil.

Synonyms

fork, hoe, pitchfork.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
rake	A rake is typically used for gathering leaves, grass clippings, or other garden debris. It is a common tool in gardening and lawn care. He used a rake to gather the fallen leaves in the backyard. She raked the grass to remove the dead patches.
hoe	A hoe is used for weeding, shaping soil, and removing unwanted plants. It's a common agricultural and horticultural hand tool. He used a hoe to remove the weeds from the vegetable garden. She hoed the soil to create small ridges for planting.
fork	A fork, in gardening generally referred to as a garden fork, is used for digging, loosening soil, or turning over compost. It’s particularly useful in preparing soil for planting. She used a fork to loosen the soil before planting the seeds. The garden fork made it easy to turn the compost.
pitchfork	A pitchfork is used for lifting and moving hay, straw, or similar materials. It has a long handle and several long, thin tines. He grabbed the pitchfork to move the hay bales. She used a pitchfork to spread straw in the barn.

Examples of usage

She used a rake to tidy up the garden after the storm.
He raked the leaves into a pile for composting.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

gardening

To use a rake to gather or move things like leaves or soil.

Synonyms

collect, gather, sweep.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
rake	Used when describing the action of moving scattered objects into a pile, especially leaves or debris in a yard. You should rake the leaves in the garden before it starts to rain. They spent the afternoon raking pine needles off the lawn.
gather	Used when bringing people or things together, often for a common purpose or event. It can be applied in both formal and informal settings. Let's gather everyone for the meeting. They gathered mushrooms in the forest.
collect	Used when gathering items together from different places, often organized and not limited to outdoor settings. She likes to collect stamps from different countries. Can you collect all the documents from the office?
sweep	Used when cleaning a surface by removing dirt or debris with a broom, commonly applied to indoor or outdoor surfaces. You need to sweep the kitchen floor. They swept the walkway to get rid of the fallen leaves.

Examples of usage

She raked the soil before planting the seeds.
He raked the leaves into neat piles.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'rake'

The word 'rake' originated from Old English 'racu', meaning a rod or bar. Over time, it evolved to refer to the tool we now know as a rake. Rakes have been used for centuries in agriculture and gardening to gather leaves, smooth soil, and perform other tasks.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #13,833, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.

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13831 bonnet
13832 legislator
13833 rake
13834 vesting
13835 turpentine
13836 laboured
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