Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

raise

Syllabification: (raise)
Pronunciation: /rāz/
Translate raise | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of raise

verb

[with object]
  • 1lift or move to a higher position or level:she raised both arms above her head his flag was raised over the city
  • lift or move to a vertical position; set upright:Melody managed to raise him to his feet
  • construct or build (a structure):a fence was being raised around the property
  • cause to rise or form:the galloping horse raised a cloud of dust
  • bring to the surface (something that has sunk).
  • cause (bread) to rise, especially by the action of yeast.
  • 2increase the amount, level, or strength of:the bank raised interest rates the aim was to raise awareness of the plight of the homeless
  • promote (someone) to a higher rank:the king raised him to the title of Count Torre Bella
  • (usually as noun raising) Linguistics (in transformational grammar) move (an element) from a lower structure to a higher one.
  • (raise something to) Mathematics multiply a quantity by itself to (a specified power):3 raised to the 7th power is 2,187
  • [with two objects] (in poker or brag) bet (a specified amount) more than (another player):I’ll raise you another hundred dollars
  • [with object] Bridge make a higher bid in the same suit as that bid by (one’s partner).
  • [with object] increase (a bid) by raising.
  • 3cause to occur or be considered:the alarm was raised when he failed to return home doubts have been raised about the future of the reprocessing plant
  • generate (an invoice or other document).
  • 4collect, levy, or bring together (money or resources):she was attempting to raise $20,000
  • 5bring up (a child):he was born and raised in San Francisco
  • breed or grow (animals or plants):they raised pigs and kept a pony
  • 6bring (someone) back from death:God raised Jesus from the dead
  • 7abandon or force an enemy to abandon (a siege, blockade, or embargo).
  • 8drive (an animal) from its lair:the jack rabbit was only 250 yards from where he first raised it
  • cause (a ghost or spirit) to appear: figurativethe piece raises the ghosts of a number of twentieth-century art ideas
  • British informal establish contact with (someone), especially by telephone or radio:I raised him on the open line
  • (of someone at sea) come in sight of (land or another ship):they raised the low coast by evening
  • 9 Immunology stimulate production of (an antiserum, antibody, or other biologically active substance) against the appropriate target cell or substance.

noun

  • 1North American an increase in salary:he wants a raise and some perks
  • 2(in poker or brag) an increase in a stake.
  • Bridge a higher bid in the suit that one’s partner has bid.
  • 3 [usually with adjective] Weightlifting an act of lifting or raising a part of the body while holding a weight:bent-over raises

Phrases

raise Cain

see Cain.

raise the devil

informal make a noisy disturbance.

raise one's eyebrows

raise one's glass

drink a toast:I raised my glass to Susan

raise one's hand

strike or seem to be about to strike someone:she raised her hand to me

raise one's hat

briefly remove one’s hat as a gesture of courtesy or respect to someone.

raise hell

informal make a noisy disturbance.
complain vociferously:he raised hell with real estate developers and polluters

raise hob

see hob2.

raise a laugh

make people laugh.

raise the roof

make or cause someone else to make a great deal of noise, especially through cheering:when I finally scored, the fans raised the roof

raise one's voice

speak more loudly.
begin to speak or sing.

Derivatives

raisable

adjective

raiser

noun

Origin:

Middle English: from Old Norse reisa; related to the verb rear2

raise in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of raise in the British & World English dictionary