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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Stake Definition, Usage & Key Differences (3 meaning)

Meaning 1：ownership share (stake)

stake 🔊

/stɛɪk/

a share or investment in a business, showing you have an interest in its success.

ownership share 🔊

➕

/ˈoʊ.nər.ʃɪp ˌʃer/

A portion of ownership or financial interest in a business or enterprise.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English "staca," meaning "pointed stick or post."

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine gambling by literally putting your money on a wooden POST. You have a STAKE (money) in the game, just like having a STAKE (share) in a company's success.

📖 Example

She bought a stake in her friend's new tech startup because she believed in the idea. 🔊 She purchased an ownership share in her friend's new technology startup because she had faith in the concept.

🔗 Collocations

have a stake in something – to have a personal interest or involvement in something, especially concerning its success

buy a stake – to purchase a share or part of a business

a majority/minority stake – owning more/less than half of the shares in a company

🔄 Synonyms

share (n.) – A part or portion of a larger amount owned by a person.

interest (n.) – A legal share or right in property or a business.

equity (n.) – The value of shares issued by a company; ownership.

🌱 Derivatives

stakeholder (n.) – A person with an interest or concern in something, especially a business.

📖 Cultural Story

The word "stake" originates from Old English. Its original meaning as a pointed post evolved metaphorically. The gambling sense (money placed on a post) arose in the 16th century, and the business sense (holding an interest) developed from the idea of having something to gain or lose.

Meaning 2：money risked (stake)

stake 🔊

/stɛɪk/

money risked in a bet or competition, which you could win or lose.

money risked 🔊

➕

/ˈmʌn.i rɪskt/

An amount of money risked on the outcome of a game, race, or other uncertain event.

📁 Category：Entertainment & Sports 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The two friends placed a small stake on the outcome of the football match for fun. 🔊 The two friends risked a small amount of money by betting on the result of the soccer game for enjoyment.

🔗 Collocations

place a stake – to put money at risk in a bet

high stakes – involving the risk of a very large loss or gain

play for high stakes – to take part in a situation where the risks and potential rewards are very large

🔄 Synonyms

bet (n.) – An agreement to risk money on the result of an event.

wager (n.) – A formal term for a bet, especially a large one.

ante (n.) – A stake put up by a player in poker before receiving cards.

Meaning 3：pointed post (stake)

stake 🔊

/stɛɪk/

a strong wooden or metal post with a pointed end, driven into the ground.

pointed post 🔊

➕

/ˈpɔɪn.tɪd poʊst/

A strong, pointed wooden or metal post driven into the ground for support, marking, or as part of a structure.

📁 Category：Objects & Materials 🔖 Level：Elementary

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

We used wooden stakes and string to mark out the area for the new vegetable garden. 🔊 We utilized pointed wooden posts and string to outline the space intended for the new vegetable garden.

🔗 Collocations

drive a stake – to force a pointed post into the ground, usually with a hammer

tent stake – a peg used to secure a tent to the ground

tied to a stake – physically attached to a post, often for support (like a plant)

🔄 Synonyms

post (n.) – A long, sturdy piece of timber or metal set upright in the ground.

pole (n.) – A long, slender, rounded piece of wood or metal.

peg (n.) – A short pin or bolt, typically tapered, used to hold things together or mark a position.