stake in WordNet English dictionary

1. put at risk
   "I will stake my good reputation for this"
   venture  hazard  adventure  stake  jeopardize 
   
2. place a bet on
   "Which horse are you backing?"; "I'm betting on the new horse"
   bet on  back  gage  stake  game  punt 
   
3. kill by piercing with a spear or sharp pole
   "the enemies were impaled and left to die"
   impale  stake 
   
4. mark with a stake
   "stake out the path"
   stake  post 
   
5. tie or fasten to a stake
   "stake your goat"
   stake 
   

1. the money risked on a gamble
   stake  stakes  bet  wager 
   
2. (law) 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"
   interest  stake 
   
3. a pole or stake set up to mark something (as the start or end of a race track)
   "a pair of posts marked the goal"; "the corner of the lot was indicated by a stake"
   post  stake 
   
4. a strong wooden or metal post with a point at one end so it can be driven into the ground
   stake 
   
5. instrument of execution consisting of a vertical post that a victim is tied to for burning
   stake