rapes
n. C / U C2 Proficiency US //ˈɹeɪps// UK //ɹˈeɪps// rapes
n. violent crimes where someone forces another person to have sex. It is a very serious and illegal act of violence.
n. acts of non-consensual sexual intercourse involving physical force, threat of injury, or other forms of coercion.
The police are investigating several rapes in the area.
The new legislation aims to increase the conviction rates for rapes by improving how forensic evidence is collected and stored.
Sociologists argue that rapes are often less about sexual desire and more about the systematic exercise of power and control over another individual.
Usage
Countable when referring to specific instances or legal cases; uncountable when discussing the crime in a general or abstract sense.