stake¹ ◙ noun 1. a strong wooden or metal post with a point at one end, driven into the ground to support a tree, form part of a fence, act as a boundary mark, etc. • 树桩；标桩；篱笆桩 a long vertical rod used in basket-making • （制作篮子的）纵向基杆；经条 a metalworker's small anvil, typically with a projection for fitting into a socket on a bench • （铁匠用的）小铁砧 2. (the stake)(historical)a wooden post to which a person was tied before being burned alive as a punishment • [史] 火刑柱 3. a territorial division of the Mormon Church under the jurisdiction of a president • 摩门主教管辖区 ◙ verb, [with obj.] 1. support (a tree or plant) with a stake or stakes • 用桩支撑（树，植物） 2. (stake something out)mark an area with stakes so as to claim ownership of it • 立界标（以表明所有权） »the boundary between the two manors was properly staked out. 那两个庄园之间的界限是用界标准确划明的。 »the local dog staked out his territory. 这只本地的狗划分出自己的领地。 be assertive in defining and defending a position or policy • （界定和维护立场、政策时）强硬；武断；固执 »Elena was staking out a role for herself as a formidable political force. 埃琳娜坚持把自己定位为一股巨大的政治势力。
【IDIOMS】
◘ go to the stake for 1. used to emphasize that one would do anything to defend a particular belief, opinion, or person • 为（信仰、观点或人）不惜一切 ◘ pull up stakes 1. [N. Amer.] move or go to live elsewhere • [北美] 搬家，迁址 ◘ stake a claim 1. assert one's right to something • 坚持对…的所有权
【语源】
1. Old English staca, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch staak, also to stick
【PHR V】
◘ stake someone/thing out 1. [informal] continuously watch a place or person in secret • [非正式] 连续不断地暗中监视 »they'd staked out Culley's flat for half a day. 他们暗中监视卡勒的公寓已经有半天了。stake² ◙ noun 1. [一般作 stakes] a sum of money or something else of value gambled on the outcome of a risky game or venture • 赌本，赌注 »playing dice for high stakes. 掷骰子赌大钱。 »the opposition raised the stakes in the battle for power. 反对党在争取权力的斗争中增加了赌注。 a share or interest in a business, situation, or system • （在某种生意、状况或体系中的）股份，参股；利益 »GM acquired a 50 per cent stake in Saab. 通用汽车公司获得了萨博50％的股份。 (stakes)prize money, especially in horse racing • （尤指赛马的）奖金 [in names] (stakes)a horse race in which all the owners of the racehorses running contribute to the prize money • 集资赛马 »the horse is to run in the Craven Stakes. 这匹马要参加克雷文集资赛马。 [with modifier] (stakes)a situation involving competition in a specified area • （特定领域内的）竞争 »we will keep you one step ahead in the fashion stakes. 在时装领域的竞争中我们会使你领先一步。 ◙ verb, [with obj.] 1. gamble (money or something else of value) on the outcome of a game or race • （以钱或其他有价值的东西）打赌（某项比赛的输赢） »one gambler staked everything he'd got and lost. 一个赌徒尽其所有去打赌，结果输得精光。 »it was risky to stake his reputation on one big success. 把他的名誉押在一次巨大的成功上，太冒险了。 2. [US informal] give financial or other support to • [美，非正式] 资助；支持，帮助 »he staked him to an education at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. 他资助他到美术学院去学习。
【IDIOMS】
◘ at stake 1. to be won or lost; at risk • 生死攸关；处于危险境地 »people's lives could be at stake. 人民的生命可能受到危害。 2. at issue or in question • 在争论中，成问题 »the logical response is to give up, but there's more at stake than logic. 符合逻辑的反应是放弃，但要考虑的不只是逻辑。
【语源】
1. late Middle English: perhaps a specialized usage of stake, from the notion of an object being placed as a wager on a post or stake