beɪk v. & n. --v. 1 a tr.
cook (food) by
dry heat in an
oven or on a
hot surface,
without direct exposure to a
flame. b intr.
undergo the process of
being baked. 2 intr. colloq. a (usu. as be baking) (of
weather etc.) be
very hot. b (of a person)
become hot. 3 a tr.
harden (clay etc.) by heat. b intr. (of
clay etc.) be hardened by heat. 4 a tr. (of the sun) affect by
its heat, e.g.
ripen (fruit). b intr. (e.g. of fruit) be
affected by the sun's heat. --n. 1 the
act or an
instance of baking. 2 a
batch of baking. 3 US a
social gathering at
which baked
food is eaten. øbaked
Alaska see ALASKA. baked beans baked
haricot beans, usu. tinned in
tomato sauce. baking-powder a
mixture of
sodium bicarbonate,
cream of
tartar,
etc., used
instead of
yeast in baking. baking-soda sodium bicarbonate. [OE bacan]