Raise v. t. [imp. & p. p. Raised p. pr. & vb. n. Raising.]
 1. To cause to rise; to bring from a lower to a higher place; to lift upward; to elevate; to heave; as, to raise a stone or weight. Hence, figuratively: --
 (a) To bring to a higher condition or situation; to elevate in rank, dignity, and the like; to increase the value or estimation of; to promote; to exalt; to advance; to enhance; as, to raise from a low estate; to raise to office; to raise the price, and the like.
    This gentleman came to be raised to great titles.   --Clarendon.
    The plate pieces of eight were raised three pence in the piece.   --Sir W. Temple.
 (b) To increase the strength, vigor, or vehemence of; to excite; to intensify; to invigorate; to heighten; as, to raise the pulse; to raise the voice; to raise the spirits or the courage; to raise the heat of a furnace.
 (c) To elevate in degree according to some scale; as, to raise the pitch of the voice; to raise the temperature of a room.
 2. To cause to rise up, or assume an erect position or posture; to set up; to make upright; as, to raise a mast or flagstaff. Hence: --
 (a) To cause to spring up from a recumbent position, from a state of quiet, or the like; to awaken; to arouse.
    They shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.   --Job xiv. 12.
 (b) To rouse to action; to stir up; to incite to tumult, struggle, or war; to excite.
    He commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind.   --Ps. cvii. 25.
 Aeneas . . . employs his pains,
 In parts remote, to raise the Tuscan swains.   --Dryden.
 (c) To bring up from the lower world; to call up, as a spirit from the world of spirits; to recall from death; to give life to.
    Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead ?   --Acts xxvi. 8.
 3. To cause to arise, grow up, or come into being or to appear; to give rise to; to originate, produce, cause, effect, or the like. Hence, specifically: --
 (a) To form by the accumulation of materials or constituent parts; to build up; to erect; as, to raise a lofty structure, a wall, a heap of stones.
    I will raise forts against thee.   --Isa. xxix. 3.
 (b) To bring together; to collect; to levy; to get together or obtain for use or service; as, to raise money, troops, and the like. “To raise up a rent.”
 (c) To cause to grow; to procure to be produced, bred, or propagated; to grow; as, to raise corn, barley, hops, etc.; toraise cattle.  “He raised sheep.”  “He raised wheat where none grew before.”
 Note: ☞ In some parts of the United States, notably in the Southern States, raise is also commonly applied to the rearing or bringing up of children.
    I was raised, as they say in Virginia, among the mountains of the North.   --Paulding.
 (d) To bring into being; to produce; to cause to arise, come forth, or appear; -- often with up.
    I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee.   --Deut. xviii. 18.
 God vouchsafes to raise another world
 From him [Noah], and all his anger to forget.   --Milton.
 (e) To give rise to; to set agoing; to occasion; to start; to originate; as, to raise a smile or a blush.
    Thou shalt not raise a false report.   --Ex. xxiii. 1.
 (f) To give vent or utterance to; to utter; to strike up.
    Soon as the prince appears, they raise a cry.   --Dryden.
 (g) To bring to notice; to submit for consideration; as, to raise a point of order; to raise an objection.
 4. To cause to rise, as by the effect of leaven; to make light and spongy, as bread.
    Miss Liddy can dance a jig, and raise paste.   --Spectator.
 5. Naut. (a) To cause (the land or any other object) to seem higher by drawing nearer to it; as, to raise Sandy Hook light. (b) To let go; as in the command, Raise tacks and sheets, i. e., Let go tacks and sheets.
 6. Law To create or constitute; as, to raise a use, that is, to create it.
 To raise a blockade Mil., to remove or break up a blockade, either by withdrawing the ships or forces employed in enforcing it, or by driving them away or dispersing them.
 To raise a check, note, bill of exchange, etc., to increase fraudulently its nominal value by changing the writing, figures, or printing in which the sum payable is specified.
 To raise a siege, to relinquish an attempt to take a place by besieging it, or to cause the attempt to be relinquished.
 To raise steam, to produce steam of a required pressure.
 To raise the wind, to procure ready money by some temporary expedient. [Colloq.]
 To raise Cain, or To raise the devil, to cause a great disturbance; to make great trouble. [Slang]
 Syn: -- To lift; exalt; elevate; erect; originate; cause; produce; grow; heighten; aggravate; excite.
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 Block·ade n.
 1. The shutting up of a place by troops or ships, with the purpose of preventing ingress or egress, or the reception of supplies; as, the blockade of the ports of an enemy.
 Note: ☞ Blockade is now usually applied to an investment with ships or vessels, while siege is used of an investment by land forces. To constitute a blockade, the investing power must be able to apply its force to every point of practicable access, so as to render it dangerous to attempt to enter; and there is no blockade of that port where its force can not be brought to bear.
 2. An obstruction to passage.
 To raise a blockade. See under Raise.