stake /steik/ n. 1. (pl.)赌本，赌注：play for high stakes 下大注赌 2.利害关系，股份：He has a stake in several companies. 他在几家公司都拥有股份。3.(pl.)争夺赛，有奖赛奖品(金)：trial stakes 有奖赛马的预赛 The stakes are divided up among the winners. 奖金全分给了获胜者。 4.桩，标桩：tie the horse to a stake 把马拴在桩上 One of the stakes in the fence is broken. 围栏上有个桩子断了。5. 用于习语 at stake 面临威慑：Thousands of lives will be at stake if emergency aid does not arrive in the city soon.假如紧急救援不能马上到这个城市数千条生命将面临威慑。