sweepstakes
- sweepstakes
-
/sweep"stayks'/, n. (used with a sing. or pl. v.)
1. a race or other contest for which the prize consists of the stakes contributed by the various competitors.
2. the prize itself.
3. a lottery in which winning tickets are selected at random, each winning-ticket number then being matched to one of the horses nominated for or entered in a specific race, and the amounts paid the winners being determined by the finishing order of the horses that run.
5. any gambling transaction in which each of a number of persons contributes a stake, and the stakes are awarded to one or several winners.
6. a risky venture that promises large rewards: the high-tech sweepstakes.
[1485-95; earlier swepestake orig., a person who won all the stakes in a game; see SWEEP1, STAKE2, -S3]
* * *
Universalium.
2010.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
sweepstakes — [swēpstāk΄swēp′stāks΄] n. pl. sweepstakes [because the winner “sweeps in” all of the stakes] 1. a lottery in which each participant puts up money in a common fund which is given as the prize to the winner or in shares to several winners 2. a) a… … English World dictionary
Sweepstakes — Sweep stakes , n. 1. A winning of all the stakes or prizes; a sweepstake. [1913 Webster] 2. sing. or pl. The whole money or other things staked at a horse race, a given sum being put up for each horse, all of which goes to the winner, or is… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Sweepstakes — (engl., spr. Swihpstehks), eine Art von Wetten bei den landwirthschaftlichen Versammlungen in England, wo die um den Preis concurrirenden Thiere, deren Besitzer eine gewisse Summe einsetzen, von Preisrichtern beurtheilt werden u. wo der Besitzer… … Pierer's Universal-Lexikon
Sweepstakes — (engl., spr. swihpstehks), Einsatzrennen, Rennen, wobei die Preise lediglich oder hauptsächlich aus den Einsätzen gebildet werden … Kleines Konversations-Lexikon
Sweepstakes — (swihpstehks), in England Wetten der um den Preis werbenden Viehbesitzer bei landwirthschaftlichen Festen; die Summe fällt dem Besitzer des von den Preisrichtern als preiswürdig erklärten Thieres zu … Herders Conversations-Lexikon
sweepstakes — n. (1) A contest that awards prizes based on random drawings of entries, often used as a promotion of products. (2) A horse race or other gambling contest in which the winner or winners receive all the stakes placed on the race. The Essential Law … Law dictionary
sweepstakes — prize won in a race or contest, 1773, from M.E. swepestake one who sweeps or wins all the stakes in a game (1495, as the name of one of the King s ships), from swepen sweep + STAKE (Cf. stake) (v) … Etymology dictionary
Sweepstakes — In the United States consumer sales promotions known as sweepstakes or simply sweeps (both single and plural) have become associated with marketing promotions targeted toward both generating enthusiasm and providing incentive reactions among… … Wikipedia
sweepstakes — A co test, especially a horse race, or game of chance in which the winner sweeps in or takes all the stakes wagered. As defined by the American racing rules, a sweepstakes or stake is a race publicly declared open to all complying with its… … Ballentine's law dictionary
sweepstakes — n. to win the sweepstakes * * * [ swiːpsteɪk(s)] to win the sweepstakes … Combinatory dictionary
