HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY

To look up an entry in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, use the search window above. For best results, after typing in the word, click on the “Search” button instead of using the “enter” key.

Some compound words (like bus rapid transit, dog whistle, or identity theft) don’t appear on the drop-down list when you type them in the search bar. For best results with compound words, place a quotation mark before the compound word in the search window.

guide to the dictionary

rape¹

(rāp)

a. The crime of using force or the threat of force to compel a person to submit to sexual intercourse.

b. The crime of using force or threat of force to compel a person to submit to some other sexual penetration.

c. Other unlawful sexual intercourse or penetration, as with an unconscious person or person below the age of or incapable of consent.

d. An instance of any of these crimes.

2. The act of seizing and carrying off by force; abduction: the rape of Europa by Zeus.

3. The act of pillaging or plundering: the rape of the city by the invaders.

4. Abusive or improper treatment; spoiling or abuse: the rape of the land by polluters.

tr.v. raped, rap·ing, rapes

1. To use force or threat of force to compel (another person) to submit to sexual intercourse or other sexual penetration.

2. To seize and carry off by force.

3. To plunder or pillage.

4. To treat improperly; abuse or spoil.

[Middle English, from rapen, to rape, from Old French raper, to abduct, from Latin rapere, to seize; see rep- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

raper n.

rape²

(rāp)

Either of two European plants (Brassica napus or B. rapa) of the mustard family, cultivated as fodder and for their seeds, which yield a valuable oil. Certain varieties of these plants yield canola oil. Also called colza, oilseed rape.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin rāpa, pl. of rāpum, turnip.]

rape³

(rāp)

The refuse of grapes left after the extraction of the juice in winemaking.

[French râpe, grape stalk, pomace, from Old French raspe, from rasper, to scrape (in reference to the scraping of grapes off the stalk in making wine); see RASP.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

American Heritage Dictionary Products

HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY

THE USAGE PANEL

AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY APP

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY BLOG

INTERESTED IN DICTIONARIES?

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

American Heritage Dictionary Products