student asking question

What does "stake" mean when it's used as a verb?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

"Stake a claim" is the full expression, and this means to assert or declare one's rights or possession over something. The speaker has used this expression to express in a metaphorical way that fireweed is the first plant to arrive, and is earlier than other plants of flowers. This is why it is called "summer's timekeeper." You can use "stake a claim" in similar contexts, like when you want to emphasize that something or someone was the first to arrive or declare its authority over something. Ex: European powers began to stake their claim over North America in the 17th century. Ex: My dog always pees at the fire hydrant in front of our house. He's staking a claim over his territory.

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