racket

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A device consisting of an oval frame with a tight interlaced network of strings and a handle, used to strike a ball or shuttlecock in various games.
2. n. A wooden paddle, as one used in table tennis.
3. n. A loud distressing noise. See Synonyms at noise.
4. n. A dishonest business or practice, especially one that obtains money through fraud or extortion.
5. n. An easy, profitable means of livelihood.
6. n. Slang A business or occupation.
7. v. To make or move with a loud distressing noise.
8. v. To lead an active social life.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A disorderly, confusing noise, as of commingled play or strife and loud talk; any prolonged clatter; din; clamor; hurly-burly.
2. n. A disturbance; a row; also, a noisy gathering; a scene of clamorous or eager merriment.
3. n. A clamorous outburst, as of indignation or other emotion; a noisy manifestation of feeling: as, to make a racket about a trifle; to raise a racket about one's ears.
4. n. Something going on, whether noisily and openly or quietly; a special proceeding, scheme, project, or the like: a slang use of very wide application: as, what's the racket? (what is going on?); to go on a racket (to engage in a lark or go on a spree); to be on to a person's racket (to detect his secret aim or purpose); to work the racket (to carry on a particular scheme or undertaking, especially one of a “shady” character); to stand the racket (to take the consequences, or abide the result).
5. n. A smart stroke; a rap.
6. To make a rattling or clattering noise; raise a tumult; move noisily.
7. To engage or take part in a racket of any kind; frequent noisy or tumultuous scenes; carry on eager or energetic action of some special kind.
8. To be dissipated; indulge to excess in social pleasures.
9. To utter noisily or tumultuously; clamor out.
10. n. The instrument with which players at tennis and like games strike the. ball; a bat consisting usually of a thin strip of wood bent into a somewhat elliptical hoop, across which a network of cord or catgut is stretched, and to which a handle is attached.
11. n. plural A modern variety of the old game of tennis.
12. n. A kind of net.
13. n. A snow-shoe: an Anglicized form of French raquette.
14. n. A broad wooden shoe or patten for a horse or other draft-animal, to enable him to step on marshy or soft ground.
15. n. A bird's tail-feather shaped like a racket; a spatule. The racket may result from a spatulate enlargement of the webs at or near the end of the feather; or from the lack, natural or artificial, of webbing along a part of the feather, beyond which the feather is webbed; or from coiling of the end of the feather. These formations are exhibited in the motmots, in some humming-birds and birds of paradise, and in various others, and are illustrated in the figures under Momotus, Prioniturus, and Cincinnurus. Some feathers springing from the head acquire a similar shape. See cut under Parotia.
16. n. A musical instrument of the seventeenth century, consisting of a mouthpiece with a double reed, and a wooden tube repeatedly bent upon itself, and pierced with several fingerholes. Its compass was limited, and the tone weak and difficult to produce. Several varieties or sizes were made, as of the bombard, which it resembled, Early in the eighteenth century it was replaced by the modern bassoon.
17. n. An organ-stop giving tones similar to those of the above instrument.
18. To strike with or as if with a racket; toss.
19. n. Hustle; the quality of ‘getting there.’
20. n. To stand the strain.

Wiktionary

1. n. countable A racquet: an implement with a handle connected to a round frame strung with wire, sinew, or plastic cords, and used to hit a ball, such as in tennis or a birdie in badminton.
2. n. only in singular A loud noise.
3. n. A fraud or swindle; an illegal scheme for profit.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. A thin strip of wood, having the ends brought together, forming a somewhat elliptical hoop, across which a network of catgut or cord is stretched. It is furnished with a handle, and is used for catching or striking a ball in tennis and similar games.
2. n. A variety of the game of tennis played with peculiar long-handled rackets; -- chiefly in the plural.
3. n. Canada A snowshoe formed of cords stretched across a long and narrow frame of light wood.
4. n. A broad wooden shoe or patten for a man or horse, to enable him to step on marshy or soft ground.
5. v. To strike with, or as with, a racket.
6. n. confused, clattering noise; din; noisy talk or sport.
7. n. Slang A carouse; any reckless dissipation.
8. n. Slang A scheme, dodge, trick, or the like; something taking place considered as exciting, trying, unusual, or the like; also, such occurrence considered as an ordeal.
9. n. an organized illegal activity, such as illegal gambling, bootlegging, or extortion.
10. v. To make a confused noise or racket.
11. v. To engage in noisy sport; to frolic.
12. v. Slang To carouse or engage in dissipation.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. make loud and annoying noises
2. n. an illegal enterprise (such as extortion or fraud or drug peddling or prostitution) carried on for profit
3. v. hit (a ball) with a racket
4. n. a sports implement (usually consisting of a handle and an oval frame with a tightly interlaced network of strings) used to strike a ball (or shuttlecock) in various games
5. n. a loud and disturbing noise
6. v. celebrate noisily, often indulging in drinking; engage in uproarious festivities
7. n. the auditory experience of sound that lacks musical quality; sound that is a disagreeable auditory experience