reɪd n. & v. --n. 1 a
rapid surprise attack, esp.: a by troops,
aircraft, etc. in
warfare. b to
commit a
crime or do
harm. 2 a surprise attack by
police etc. to
arrest suspected persons or
seize illicit goods. 3
Stock Exch. an
attempt to lower prices by
the concerted selling of shares. 4 (foll. by
on, upon) a
forceful or
insistent attempt to
make a
person or
thing provide something. --v.tr. 1 make a raid on (a person,
place, or thing). 2
plunder,
deplete . øøraider n. [ME,
Sc.
form of OE rad ROAD(1)]