A stake is a short post made of wood or metal that is driven into the ground. A stake may act as a support, anchor or marker. Stakes are used to support plants, anchor tents or mark land boundaries, among other things. Stake is also the term for a small anvil used by a metalworker, a vertical rod used by basket makers, or the pole a condemned person is tied to in anticipation of being burned alive. Lastly, a stake refers to the valuables that a person hazards in a game of chance. Stake may also be used as a verb, meaning to claim ownership or to attach something to a stake as a support, as well as to hazard valuables in a game of chance. Related words are stakes, staked, staking
A steak is a thick, desirable slice of meat from pork, fish, lamb or especially, beef. Steak is normally grilled, broiled or fried.
Examples
The government announced plans to begin to reduce its stake in the Royal Mail in June and raised 750 million pounds, or about $1.15 billion, through the sale of a 15 percent stake that month. (The New York Times)
Dubai-based Aster DM Healthcare, which has presence in West Asia and India, has acquired an additional 57 per cent stake in Sanad Hospital in Saudi Arabia for AED 900 million (around Rs 1,600 crore). (The Economic Times)
What’s at stake: Four waterfront projects that hinge on this election (The Toronto Star)
But instead of the ‘juicy, glistening’ steak that Mr Allcock had expected, the father-of-two was served a well done steak, topped with a pale slice of ham and a ‘mushy paste’ smeared on top. (The Daily Mail)
All these years later, with a menu expanded to salads, Steak ‘n Shake has followed me west. (The San Jose Mercury-News)
A police officer said Gilbert had allegedly forced his way into the kitchen and grabbed a steak knife before exchanging it for a bread knife. (The Mirror)