English▸ noun
1 [in singular] a loud unpleasant noise; a din:
the kids were making a racket.
▪ archaic the noise and liveliness of fashionable society.
2 informal an illegal or dishonest scheme for obtaining money:
a protection racket.
▪ a person's line of business or way of life:
I'm in the insurance racket.
▸ verb
(rackets, racketing, racketed)
[no object] make a loud unpleasant noise: trains racketed by.
▪ (racket around) enjoy oneself socially; go in pursuit of pleasure or entertainment.
– ORIGIN mid 16th century : perhaps imitative of clattering.