rake - Definition & Meaning | Lingo Dictionary

rake

to make a ground surface become level or smooth, using a special gardening toolto make a ground surface become level or smooth, using a special gardening tool

Examples

He rakes the soil in the garden to prepare it for planting.
She rakes the leaves in the yard to keep it tidy.
The groundskeeper rakes the sand in the playground to remove debris.

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rake

Third Person

rakes

Present Participle

raking

Past Tense

raked

Past Participle

raked

1

to make a ground surface become level or smooth, using a special gardening tool

He rakes the soil in the garden to prepare it for planting.
She rakes the leaves in the yard to keep it tidy.
The groundskeeper rakes the sand in the playground to remove debris.
After mowing the lawn, he rakes to collect grass clippings and create a neat appearance.
She rakes the gravel pathway to even out the surface for walking.

2

to pull or drag something in a sweeping motion

transitive

He raked the sled across the snow, leaving a trail behind.
She raked the brush through the wet paint to create a smooth finish.
He raked his fingers through the pile of papers, searching for the right one.
The dog raked its tail across the floor as it wagged excitedly.
The boat raked its hull through the water as it moved swiftly along.

3

to gather or move something using a rake or a similar tool

transitive

He raked the leaves into a big pile in the backyard.
They spent the afternoon raking the leaves into bags for disposal.
The workers raked the gravel to make the path smooth.
He raked the grass clippings into a compost bin.
The farmer raked the hay together to make it easier to store.

4

to scratch or scrape something, especially skin, with a sweeping or fast motion

transitive

He accidentally raked his arm against the rough surface.
The cat’s claws raked his leg as it jumped onto his lap.
The tree branch raked his cheek, causing a small cut.
He felt the sting when the thorny bush raked his skin.
She accidentally raked her hand across the glass and cut herself.

Synonyms:

5

to search through something in a quick, disorganized manner

He raked through the drawer looking for his missing keys.
She raked through her bag, trying to find her phone.
He raked through the pile of papers on his desk to find the important document.
The children raked through the toy box looking for their favorite game.
He raked through the library shelves, looking for a specific book.

Synonyms:

scan glance over run down skim

6

to move over something in a smooth, sweeping motion

The wind raked across the plains, bending the tall grass.
Her fingers raked through the sand as she searched for shells.
The waves raked across the beach, leaving foam behind.
The branches raked across the roof during the storm.
The broom raked over the floor, gathering up all the dust.