stake (
http://definr.com/stake)
n 1: 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]
2: a pole or stake set up to mark something (as the start or
end of a race track) [syn:
post]
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:
stakes,
bet,
wager]
v 1: put at risk; "I will stake my good reputation for this"
[syn:
venture,
hazard,
adventure,
jeopardize]
2: place a bet on; "Which horse are you backing?" "I'm betting
on the new horse" [syn:
bet on,
back,
gage,
game,
punt]
3: mark with a stake; "stake out the path" [syn:
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]