rape

UK: /ˈreɪp/ US: /reɪp/ ,(rāp)

Inflections of 'rape' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

rapes

v 3rd person singular

raping

v pres p

raped

v past

raped

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

rape¹ /reɪp/   n., v., raped, rap•ing. 
n. 

1. the unlawful act of forcing (someone) to have sexual relations:
   [uncountable] victims of rape.
   [countable] convicted of several rapes.
2. an act of spoiling or destroying on a large scale:
   [countable* usually singular] the rape of the countryside.

v. 

3. to force (someone) to have sexual relations: [~ + object]
   He was accused of raping several women.
   [no object]
   might rape again.
4. to despoil:
   [~ + object] developers raping the beautiful countryside.

rap•er, n. [countable]
rap•ist, n. [countable] See -rape-.

rape² /reɪp/   n. [uncountable]

1. Plant Biology a plant of the mustard family whose leaves are used as food for animals and whose seeds yield a useful oil.

-rape-, root. 

1. -rape- comes from Latin, where it has the meaning "carry off by force.'' This meaning is found in such words as: rape, rapid, rapine, rapt, rapture.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

rape¹  (rāp), n., v., raped, rap•ing. 
n. 

1. the unlawful compelling of a woman through physical force or duress to have sexual intercourse.
2. Lawmaking any act of sexual intercourse that is forced upon a person.
3. Law See statutory rape. 
4. an act of plunder, violent seizure, or abuse;
   despoliation;
   violation:
   the rape of the countryside.
5. [Archaic.] the act of seizing and carrying off by force.

v.t. 

6. to force to have sexual intercourse.
7. to plunder (a place);
   despoil.
8. to seize, take, or carry off by force.

v.i. 

9. to commit rape.

• Anglo-French ra(a)p(e), derivative of raper
• Latin rapere to seize, carry off by force, plunder; (noun, nominal) Middle English
• Anglo-French raper
• (verb, verbal) Middle English rapen 1250–1300

rap′a•ble, rape′a•ble, adj. 
rap′ist, rap′er, n. 

rape²  (rāp), n. 

1. Plant Biology a plant, Brassica napus, of the mustard family, whose leaves are used for food for hogs, sheep, etc., and whose seeds yield rape oil.

• Latin rāpum (neuter), rāpa (feminine) turnip; cognate with Greek rhápys
• Middle French)
• Middle English (1350–1400

rape³  (rāp), n. 

1. the residue of grapes, after the juice has been extracted, used as a filter in making vinegar.

• Gmc; compare Old High German raspōn to scrape
• French râpe
• 1590–1600

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

rape / reɪp/ noun

1. the offence of forcing a person to submit to sexual intercourse against that person's will
2. the act of despoiling a country in warfare; rapine
3. any violation or abuse: the rape of justice
4. abduction: the rape of the Sabine women

verb (mainly tr)

1. to commit rape upon (a person)
2. to carry off by force; abduct

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin rapere to seize

rape / reɪp/ noun

1. a Eurasian plant, Brassica napus, that has bright yellow flowers and is cultivated for its seeds, which yield a useful oil, and as a fodder plant: family Brassicaceae (crucifers)
   Also called: colza, cole

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin rāpum turnip

rape / reɪp/ noun

1. (often plural) the skins and stalks of grapes left after wine-making: used in making vinegar

Etymology: 17th Century: from French râpe, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German raspōn to scrape together