ante

/หˆรฆnti/

IPA: /AE1 N T IY0/

noun
  1. 1

    A price or cost, as in up the ante.

  2. 2

    In poker and other games, the contribution made by all players to the pot before dealing the cards.

verb
  1. 1

    To pay the ante in poker. Often used as ante up.

  2. 2

    To make an investment in money, effort, or time before knowing one's chances.

Source: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ante