raid

raid¹ [reıd] n

[Date: 1400-1500; : Scottish English; Origin: Old English rad 'ride, raid'; ROAD]

1.) a short attack on a place by soldiers, planes, or ships, intended to cause damage but not take control

▪ a bombing raid

▪ an air raid warning siren

raid on/against

▪ The colonel led a successful raid against a rebel base.

launch/carry out/stage a raid

▪ The army launched several cross-border raids last night.

→↑air raid

2.) a surprise visit made to a place by the police to search for something illegal

▪ a police raid

▪ an FBI raid

raid on

▪ Four people were arrested during a raid on a house in London.

▪ a dawn raid (=one made very early in the morning)

3.) an attack by criminals on a building where they believe they can steal money or drugs

▪ a bank raid

raid on

▪ an armed raid on a shop in Glasgow

→↑ram-raiding

4.) technical an attempt by a company to buy enough ↑shares in another company to take control of it

raid ²

raid² v [T]

1.) if police raid a place, they make a surprise visit to search for something illegal

▪ Police found illegal weapons when they raided five homes yesterday.

2.) to make a sudden military attack on a place

▪ air bases on the mainland from which the island could be raided

raiding party

(=a group taking part in an attack)

3.) to go into a place and steal things

▪ A gang of thieves raided three homes in the area.

4.) to go to a place that has supplies of food or drink and take some because you are hungry

▪ Peter went into the kitchen to raid the fridge.