Definition of stake

• (law) a right or legal share of something; a financial involvement with something; "they have interests all over the world"; "a stake in the companys future"
• 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"
• instrument of execution consisting of a vertical post that a victim is tied to for burning