bake / bāk/ • v. [tr.] 1. cook (food) by dry heat without direct exposure to a flame, typically in an oven or on a hot surface: they bake their own bread and cakes. ∎  [intr.] (of food) be cooked in such a way: the bread was baking on hot stones.2. (of the sun or other agency) subject (something) to dry heat, esp. so as to harden it: the sun has baked the earth a dusty brown. ∎  [intr.] inf. (of a person or place) be or become extremely hot in prolonged sun or hot weather: the city was baking in a heat wave • n. a social gathering at which baked food is eaten: lobster bakes on deserted islands.

bake OE. bacan str. vb., f. Gmc. *bak-. Weak inflexions (baked) began to appear before 1400, and were established by XVI.