Meaning of the word "stake out" in English

What does "stake out" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

stake out

US /steɪk aʊt/
UK /steɪk aʊt/
"stake out" picture

Phrasal Verb

1.

to watch a place or person secretly, especially in order to catch a criminal or to find information

Example:
The police decided to stake out the suspect's house.
They had to stake out the area for hours before anything happened.
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