raid
raid Lexical Profile
raid Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A surprise visit and search by police or other law enforcement officials to arrest suspects or seize contraband and illegal goods.
"Customs officials recovered thousands of counterfeit luxury watches during an early morning raid on the warehouse."
A sudden, rapid surprise attack or incursion on an enemy position or territory, typically to seize supplies or inflict damage before withdrawing.
"Historians studied how Viking coastal settlements launched seasonal raids across northern Europe."
An aggressive attempt by an outside investor or rival company to acquire a controlling stake in a corporation or recruit away its key talent.
"The board of directors adopted new defensive measures to protect the firm against a hostile corporate raid."
• verb
To conduct a sudden surprise attack or law enforcement search on a place.
"Federal inspectors raided the unlicensed facility after receiving numerous reports of regulatory violations."
To illicitly or eagerly take items, food, or funds from a storage place, reserve, or competing organization.
"After returning late from basketball practice, the hungry teenagers raided the refrigerator for leftovers."
• Rhymes for raid
Word Origin & Etymology
Originally a Scots variant of the Old English 'rad', meaning 'a riding' or 'journey', from the same Germanic root that produced the modern word 'ride' and 'road'. The word was popularized in general English during the early 19th century by Sir Walter Scott's historical writings about Scottish border incursions.