From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
stake
n 1: (law) a right or legal share of something; a financial
involvement with something; "they have interests all over
the world"; "a stake in the company's future" [syn:
interest, stake]
2: a pole or stake set up to mark something (as the start or end
of a race track); "a pair of posts marked the goal"; "the
corner of the lot was indicated by a stake" [syn: post,
stake]
3: instrument of execution consisting of a vertical post that a
victim is tied to for burning
4: the money risked on a gamble [syn: stake, stakes, bet,
wager]
5: a strong wooden or metal post with a point at one end so it
can be driven into the ground
v 1: put at risk; "I will stake my good reputation for this"
[syn: venture, hazard, adventure, stake,
jeopardize]
2: place a bet on; "Which horse are you backing?"; "I'm betting
on the new horse" [syn: bet on, back, gage, stake,
game, punt]
3: mark with a stake; "stake out the path" [syn: stake,
post]
4: tie or fasten to a stake; "stake your goat"
5: kill by piercing with a spear or sharp pole; "the enemies
were impaled and left to die" [syn: impale, stake]