The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Stake \Stake\ (st[=a]k), n. [AS. staca, from the root of E.
   stick; akin to OFries. & LG. stake, D. staak, Sw. stake, Dan.
   stage. See Stick, v. t., and cf. Estacade, Stockade.]
   1. A piece of wood, usually long and slender, pointed at one
      end so as to be easily driven into the ground as a support
      or stay; as, a stake to support vines, fences, hedges,
      etc.
      [1913 Webster]

            A sharpened stake strong Dryas found. --Dryden.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A stick inserted upright in a loop, eye, or mortise, at
      the side or end of a cart, a flat car, or the like, to
      prevent goods from falling off.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. The piece of timber to which a martyr was affixed to be
      burned; hence, martyrdom by fire.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. A small anvil usually furnished with a tang to enter a
      hole in a bench top, -- used by tinsmiths, blacksmiths,
      etc., for light work, punching upon, etc.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. That which is laid down as a wager; that which is staked
      or hazarded; a pledge.
      [1913 Webster]

   6. (Mormon Ch.) A territorial division; -- called also stake
      of Zion.

            Every city, or "stake," including a chief town and
            surrounding towns, has its president, with two
            counselors; and this president has a high council of
            chosen men.                           --Schaff-Herzog
                                                  Encyc.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

   At stake, in danger; hazarded; pledged. "I see my
      reputation is at stake." --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Stake \Stake\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Staked (st[=a]kd); p. pr. &
   vb. n. Staking.]
   1. To fasten, support, or defend with stakes; as, to stake
      vines or plants.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To mark the limits of by stakes; -- with out; as, to stake
      out land; to stake out a new road.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To put at hazard upon the issue of competition, or upon a
      future contingency; to wager; to pledge.
      [1913 Webster]

            I'll stake yon lamb, that near the fountain plays.
                                                  --Pope.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. To pierce or wound with a stake. --Spectator.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

stake
    n 1: (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" [syn:
         interest, stake]
    2: 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" [syn: post,
       stake]
    3: instrument of execution consisting of a vertical post that a
       victim is tied to for burning
    4: the money risked on a gamble [syn: stake, stakes, bet,
       wager]
    5: a strong wooden or metal post with a point at one end so it
       can be driven into the ground
    v 1: put at risk; "I will stake my good reputation for this"
         [syn: venture, hazard, adventure, stake,
         jeopardize]
    2: place a bet on; "Which horse are you backing?"; "I'm betting
       on the new horse" [syn: bet on, back, gage, stake,
       game, punt]
    3: mark with a stake; "stake out the path" [syn: stake,
       post]
    4: tie or fasten to a stake; "stake your goat"
    5: kill by piercing with a spear or sharp pole; "the enemies
       were impaled and left to die" [syn: impale, stake]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

298 Moby Thesaurus words for "stake":
   Derby, Kentucky Derby, Kreis, Preakness Stakes, absolute interest,
   allotment, allowance, angel, ante, ante up, archbishopric,
   archdiocese, arrondissement, at hazard, at stake, ax, back,
   backing, bailiwick, bank, bankroll, benefit, bet, bet on, big end,
   bigger half, bishopric, bit, bite, block, bond, book, borough,
   bottomry, budget, cage, call, canton, capitalization, capitalize,
   caution, caution money, chain, chance, chase, chunk, circumscribe,
   city, claim, close in, close off, collateral, collateral security,
   column, commission, common, commune, concern, concerned, confine,
   congressional district, constablewick, contingent,
   contingent interest, county, cover, cross, cut, deal, death chair,
   death chamber, deficit financing, define, delimit, delineate,
   demarcate, depart, departement, deposit, destiny, diocese,
   district, dividend, dole, drop, duchy, easement,
   electoral district, electorate, electric chair, emigrate, enclose,
   end, equal share, equitable interest, equity, estate, fade, fasten,
   fate, fence, finance, financial backing, financial support,
   financing, flat race, forfeit, fund, funding, gallows,
   gallows-tree, gamble, game, gas chamber, gibbet, go bail,
   government, grubstake, guillotine, half, halter, halver, hamlet,
   handbook, handicap, handicap race, handsel, harness race, hazard,
   helping, hem in, hemp, hempen collar, hitch, hock, holding,
   horse race, hot seat, hundred, hurdle race, hypothecate,
   impignorate, impound, in jeopardy, interest, investment, involved,
   involvement, jackpot, jeopardize, jeopardized, kitty, lash, lay,
   lay a wager, lay down, leash, leave, leg, lethal chamber,
   limitation, lot, magistracy, maiden, make a bet, margin, mark off,
   mark out, measure, meed, meet a bet, mess, metropolis,
   metropolitan area, migrate, modicum, moiety, mortgage, move on,
   noose, oblast, okrug, on the table, outline, pale, paling,
   palisade, parish, parlay, part, pass, patronization, patronize,
   pawn, pay for, peg, pen, percentage, picket, piece, pike, pile,
   pillar, plate race, play, play against, pledge, plunge, pole, pool,
   portion, post, pot, precinct, principality, proportion,
   provide for, province, provision of capital, pull up stakes, punt,
   purse race, put, put in hock, put in pawn, put up, quantum,
   quarter-horse race, quota, rake-off, ration, refinance, region,
   resettle, riding, right, right of entry, risk, risked, rope,
   scaffold, secure, see, segment, set up, settlement, shank, share,
   sheriffalty, sheriffwick, shire, shot, shrievalty, shut in, slice,
   small share, soke, spike, spile, sponsor, sponsorship, spout,
   stake out, stake race, stakes, stand pat, state, stave,
   steeplechase, stick, stock, strict settlement, subsidize, subsidy,
   support, sweep, sweepstake, sweepstakes, territory, tether,
   the chair, tie up, tiger, title, town, township, tree,
   trotting race, trust, upright, use, venture, vested interest,
   village, wager, wall in, wapentake, ward