shakedown

/ˌʃeɪkˈdaʊn/

Other forms: shakedowns

Definitions of shakedown

1. noun

   extortion of money (as by blackmail)
   type of:

   extortion

   the felonious act of extorting money (as by threats of violence)
2. noun

   a very thorough search of a person or a place
   type of:

   hunt, hunting, search

   the activity of looking thoroughly in order to find something or someone
3. noun

   initial adjustments to improve the functioning or the efficiency and to bring to a more satisfactory state
   “the new industry's economic shakedown”

   type of:

   accommodation, adjustment, fitting

   making or becoming suitable; adjusting to circumstances
4. adjective

   intended to test a new system under operating conditions and to familiarize the operators with the system
   “a shakedown cruise”