rape

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈreɪp/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/reɪp/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(rāp)

Inflections of 'rape' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
rapes
v 3rd person singular
raping
v pres p
raped
v past
raped
v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
rape1 /reɪp/USA pronunciation   n., v., raped, rap•ing. 
n. 
  1. the unlawful act of forcing (someone) to have sexual relations: [uncountable]victims of rape.[countable]convicted of several rapes.
  2. an act of spoiling or destroying on a large scale:[countable* usually singular]the rape of the countryside.

v. 
  1. to force (someone) to have sexual relations: [~ + object]He was accused of raping several women.[no object]might rape again.
  2. to despoil:[~ + object]developers raping the beautiful countryside.
rap•er, n. [countable]
rap•ist, n. [countable]See -rape-.

rape2 /reɪp/USA pronunciation   n. [uncountable]
  1. Plant Biologya plant of the mustard family whose leaves are used as food for animals and whose seeds yield a useful oil.

-rape-, root. 
    1. -rape- comes from Latin, where it has the meaning "carry off by force.'' This meaning is found in such words as: rape, rapid, rapine, rapt, rapture.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
rape1  (rāp),USA pronunciation n., v., raped, rap•ing. 
n. 
  1. the unlawful compelling of a woman through physical force or duress to have sexual intercourse.
  2. Lawmakingany act of sexual intercourse that is forced upon a person.
  3. LawSee statutory rape. 
  4. an act of plunder, violent seizure, or abuse;
    despoliation;
    violation:the rape of the countryside.
  5. [Archaic.]the act of seizing and carrying off by force.

v.t. 
  1. to force to have sexual intercourse.
  2. to plunder (a place);
    despoil.
  3. to seize, take, or carry off by force.

v.i. 
  1. to commit rape.
  • Anglo-French ra(a)p(e), derivative of raper
  • Latin rapere to seize, carry off by force, plunder; (noun, nominal) Middle English
  • Anglo-French raper
  • (verb, verbal) Middle English rapen 1250–1300
rap′a•ble, rape′a•ble, adj. 
rap′ist, rap′er, n. 

rape2  (rāp),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. Plant Biologya plant, Brassica napus, of the mustard family, whose leaves are used for food for hogs, sheep, etc., and whose seeds yield rape oil.
  • Latin rāpum (neuter), rāpa (feminine) turnip; cognate with Greek rhápys
  • Middle French)
  • Middle English (1350–1400

rape3  (rāp),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. the residue of grapes, after the juice has been extracted, used as a filter in making vinegar.
  • Gmc; compare Old High German raspōn to scrape
  • French râpe
  • 1590–1600

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
rape /reɪp/ n
  1. the offence of forcing a person to submit to sexual intercourse against that person's will
  2. the act of despoiling a country in warfare; rapine
  3. any violation or abuse: the rape of justice
  4. archaic abduction: the rape of the Sabine women
 vb (mainly tr)
  1. to commit rape upon (a person)
  2. archaic to carry off by force; abduct
Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin rapere to seize
rape /reɪp/ n
  1. a Eurasian plant, Brassica napus, that has bright yellow flowers and is cultivated for its seeds, which yield a useful oil, and as a fodder plant: family Brassicaceae (crucifers)Also called: colza, cole
Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin rāpum turnip
rape /reɪp/ n
  1. (often plural) the skins and stalks of grapes left after wine-making: used in making vinegar
Etymology: 17th Century: from French râpe, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German raspōn to scrape together
'rape' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
assault - Beardsley - brassica - burglary - cole - colza - date rape - dishonour - force - kohlrabi - mock-heroic - oil-seed rape - outrage - rampion - rapist - rapid - rappee - rapt - ravish - Southampton - violate - abuse - acquaintance rape - aggravated - broomrape family - carnal abuse - coleseed - colza oil - criminal assault - dishonor - gang rape - indecent assault - jailbait - pillage - plunder - rapacious - Rape of Lucrece, The - Rape of the Lock, The - rape oil - rapeseed - rapier - rapine - rapini - rappé pie - raptor - raptus - rasp - ravioli - ravishment - Tatius
Collocations: sensitive: [tried, sentenced, imprisoned] for rape, sensitive: is accused of the rape (of), sensitive: convicted on [two] counts of rape, more...

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