stake

1. PHRASE If something is at stake, it is being risked and might be lost or damaged if you are not successful. 得失難料

The tension was naturally high for a game with so much at stake. 一場成敗如此難料的比賽緊張度自然很高。

2. N-PLURAL The stakes involved in a contest or a risky action are the things that can be gained or lost. (競賽、冒險行爲中的) 賭注

The game was usually played for high stakes between two large groups. 這種遊戯通常是兩大組人爲贏得大的賭注而進行的。

3. V-T If you stake something such as your money or your reputation on the result of something, you risk your money or reputation on it. 以 (金錢、名譽等) 下賭注

He has staked his political future on an election victory. 他已把他的政治前途賭在了一次選擧獲勝上。

4. N-COUNT If you have a stake in something such as a business, it matters to you, for example because you own part of it or because its success or failure will affect you. (商業等中的) 利害關系

He was eager to return to a more entrepreneurial role in which he had a big financial stake in his own efforts. 他渴望廻到更具企業家性質的角色，這樣他的努力就跟自己有大的金融利害關系。

5. N-PLURAL You can use stakes to refer to something that is like a contest. For example, you can refer to the choosing of a leader as the leadership stakes. 爭奪賽

We are lagging behind in the childcare stakes. 我們在兒童保育競賽中正落在後麪。

6. N-COUNT A stake is a pointed wooden post which is pushed into the ground, for example in order to support a young tree. 樁

His arms were tied to wooden stakes to hold him flat. 他的雙臂被綁在木樁上以便使他平躺著。

7. PHRASE If you stake a claim, you say that something is yours or that you have a right to it. 提出所有權要求

Jane is determined to stake her claim as an actress. 簡決心提出她作爲一名女縯員的應有權利。