A rake is a garden tool consisting of a row of metal or wooden teeth attached to a long handle. You can use a rake to make the earth smooth and level before you put plants in, or to gather leaves together.

If you rake a surface, you move a rake across it in order to make it smooth and level.

If you rake leaves or ashes, you move them somewhere using a rake or a similar tool.

If someone rakes an area with gunfire or with light, they cover it thoroughly by moving the gun or the light across from one side of the area to another.

If branches or someone's finger nails rake your skin, they scrape across it.

If you rake through a pile of objects or rubbish, you search through it thoroughly with your hands.

If you call a man a rake, you mean that he is rather immoral, for example because he gambles, drinks, or has sexual relationships with many women.