Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - raise

(raises, raising, raised) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. If you raise something, you move it so that it is in a higher position. He raised his hand to wave... Milton raised the glass to his lips. ...a small raised platform. VERB: V n, V n prep/adv, V-ed 2. If you raise a flag, you display it by moving it up a pole or into a high place where it can be seen. They had raised the white flag in surrender... VERB: V n 3. If you raise yourself, you lift your body so that you are standing up straight, or so that you are no longer lying flat. He raised himself into a sitting position... = lift VERB: V pron-refl 4. If you raise the rate or level of something, you increase it. The Republic of Ireland is expected to raise interest rates... ...a raised body temperature. = increase VERB: V n, V-ed 5. To raise the standard of something means to improve it. ...a new drive to raise standards of literacy in Britain’s schools. = improve VERB: V n 6. If you raise your voice, you speak more loudly, usually because you are angry. Don’t you raise your voice to me, Henry Rollins!... VERB: V n 7. A raise is an increase in your wages or salary. (AM; in BRIT, use rise) Within two months Kelly got a raise. N-COUNT 8. If you raise money for a charity or an institution, you ask people for money which you collect on its behalf. ...events held to raise money for Help the Aged... VERB: V n for n 9. If a person or company raises money that they need, they manage to get it, for example by selling their property or by borrowing. They raised the money to buy the house and two hundred acres of grounds. VERB: V n 10. If an event raises a particular emotion or question, it makes people feel the emotion or consider the question. The agreement has raised hopes that the war may end soon... The accident again raises questions about the safety of the plant. VERB: V n, V n 11. If you raise a subject, an objection, or a question, you mention it or bring it to someone’s attention. He had been consulted and had raised no objections. VERB: V n 12. Someone who raises a child looks after it until it is grown up. My mother was an amazing woman. She raised four of us kids virtually singlehandedly. = bring up VERB: V n 13. If someone raises a particular type of animal or crop, they breed that type of animal or grow that type of crop. He raises 2,000 acres of wheat and hay. VERB: V n 14. to raise the alarm: see alarm to raise your eyebrows: see eyebrow to raise a finger: see finger to raise hell: see hell to raise a laugh: see laugh to raise the roof: see roof