raid

[ reyd ]
See synonyms for raid on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a sudden assault or attack, as upon something to be seized or suppressed: a police raid on a gambling ring.

  2. Military. a sudden attack on the enemy, as by air or by a small land force.

  1. a vigorous, large-scale effort to lure away a competitor's employees, members, etc.

  2. Finance. a concerted attempt of speculators to force stock prices down.

verb (used with object)
  1. to make a raid on.

  2. to steal from; loot: a worry that the investment fund is being raided.

  1. to entice away from another: Large companies are raiding key personnel from smaller companies.

  2. to indulge oneself by taking from, especially in order to eat: raiding the cookie jar.

verb (used without object)
  1. to engage in a raid.

Origin of raid

1
1375–1425; Middle English (north and Scots ) ra(i)de,Old English rād expedition, literally, a riding; doublet of road

Other words for raid

Other words from raid

  • coun·ter·raid, noun, verb
  • un·raid·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for raid

raid

/ (reɪd) /


noun
  1. a sudden surprise attack: an air raid

  2. a surprise visit by police searching for criminals or illicit goods: a fraud-squad raid

verb
  1. to make a raid against (a person, thing, etc)

  2. to sneak into (a place) in order to take something, steal, etc: raiding the larder

Origin of raid

1
C15: Scottish dialect, from Old English rād military expedition; see road

Derived forms of raid

  • raider, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012