stake

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

The tension was naturally high for a game with so much at stake. 一场成败如此难料的比赛紧张度自然很高。

2. N-PLURAL The stakes involved in a contest or a risky action are the things that can be gained or lost. (竞赛、冒险行为中的) 赌注

The game was usually played for high stakes between two large groups. 这种游戏通常是两大组人为赢得大的赌注而进行的。

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 (金钱、名誉等) 下赌注

He has staked his political future on an election victory. 他已把他的政治前途赌在了一次选举获胜上。

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. (商业等中的) 利害关系

He was eager to return to a more entrepreneurial role in which he had a big financial stake in his own efforts. 他渴望回到更具企业家性质的角色，这样他的努力就跟自己有大的金融利害关系。

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. 争夺赛

We are lagging behind in the childcare stakes. 我们在儿童保育竞赛中正落在后面。

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. 桩

His arms were tied to wooden stakes to hold him flat. 他的双臂被绑在木桩上以便使他平躺着。

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

Jane is determined to stake her claim as an actress. 简决心提出她作为一名女演员的应有权利。