What is the meaning of bake?

1. Cooking: This is the most common meaning. It refers to the process of cooking food in an oven, using dry heat. This includes things like:

* Baking bread: Using yeast or chemical leaveners to create a light and fluffy texture.

* Baking cakes: Using sugar and eggs to create a sweet and moist texture.

* Baking cookies: Using butter, flour, and sugar to create a chewy or crispy texture.

* Baking pies: Creating a pastry crust and filling it with fruit or other ingredients.

* Baking vegetables: Roasting vegetables in the oven until tender and sometimes browned.

2. Figurative: "Bake" can be used figuratively to describe something that is being prepared or developed over time, similar to how food bakes in an oven. This can be used in the context of:

* Baking a plan: Carefully crafting and developing a plan.

* Baking a deal: Negotiating and finalizing a deal.

* Baking a story: Creating a narrative and carefully adding details.

3. Slang: "Bake" can also be slang for being intoxicated, specifically from consuming marijuana. This usage is not as common as the other meanings.

So, the specific meaning of "bake" depends on the context in which it is used. If you're not sure, it's best to ask for clarification.