rake out
B2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words
To scrape out the old stuff from something, like clearing a fireplace.
Literal meaning: Using a rake to pull material out of an enclosed space.
Meanings
1 B1 neutral
To remove ashes, cinders, or debris from a fireplace, grate, or similar space by raking.
"She raked out the ashes from the woodburner before setting a new fire."
Grammar: separable
2 B2
idiomatic
informal
To search through a place or collection of things to find something.
"He spent the afternoon raking out the old boxes in the garage looking for his passport."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Most commonly used in the literal sense of clearing ashes from a fireplace or grate. Also used for clearing a garden bed. Less common than related phrasal verbs like 'rake up.' Rare in figurative use.
Commonly used with
ashes grate fireplace debris leaves soil
Forms
Base
rake out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
rakes out
he/she/it
Past simple
raked out
yesterday
Past participle
raked out
have + pp
-ing form
raking out
continuous
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