rapeverb [ I or T ]
uk/reɪp/us/reɪp/B2 to force someone to have sex when they are unwilling, using violence or threatening behaviour:
She was pulled from the car and raped.
It's difficult to understand what causes a man to rape.
More examples
- She was raped as a young girl.
- She said that he'd raped her.
- He had raped her repeatedly during this period.
- He raped and murdered several women.
- She does a lot of counselling with women who've been raped and abused.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Physical & sexual assault & abduction
- abduct
- abduction
- aggravated assault
- assault
- beating
- go at sb
- go for sb
- grievous bodily harm
- groom
- grooming
- happy slapping
- indecent assault
- lay
- mug
- round on sb/sth
- set about sb
- set on/upon sb
- set sb/sth on sb
- sexual abuse
- violate
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rapenoun
uk/reɪp/us/reɪp/rape noun (SEX CRIME)
B2 [ C or U ] (an example of) the crime of forcefully having sex with someone against their wishes:
He had committed several rapes.
He was convicted of rape.
More examples
- The judge was reviled in the newspapers for his opinions on rape.
- We're hearing reports of the systematic rape and torture of prisoners.
- Some of the most disturbed children had witnessed really traumatic things, such as rape and murder.
- Why do so many rapes go unreported?
- The woman alleged rape, but Reeves insisted it was consensual.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Physical & sexual assault & abduction
- abduct
- abduction
- aggravated assault
- assault
- beating
- go at sb
- go for sb
- grievous bodily harm
- groom
- grooming
- happy slapping
- indecent assault
- lay
- mug
- round on sb/sth
- set about sb
- set on/upon sb
- set sb/sth on sb
- sexual abuse
- violate
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rape noun (DESTRUCTION)
[ U ] destruction of the natural world, often for profit:
The road builders were accused of the rape of the countryside.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Environmental issues
- air pollution
- biodegrade
- biotic index
- carbon capture
- carbon credits
- carbon-neutral
- defoliant
- dumping ground
- eco-footprint
- ecology
- emission
- exhaustible
- natural resources
- particulate
- photochemical smog
- preservation
- preservationist
- recycle
- recycled
- reduce, reuse, recycle idiom
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rape noun (PLANT)
[ U ] also oilseed rape, rapeseed a plant with yellow flowers from which oil and animal food are produced
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Crop plants & economic plants
- beet
- canola
- cash crop
- cassava
- clover
- flax
- hemp
- hop
- linseed
- manioc
- rabi
- safflower
- sisal
- subsistence crop
- sugar beet
- sugar cane