Stake a new note (4)
I believe the answer is:
ante
'stake' is the definition.
(ante is a kind of stake)
'a new note' is the wordplay.
'new' becomes 'n' (common abbreviation eg NT for New Testament).
'note' becomes 'te' (musical note).
'a'+'n'+'te'='ANTE'
(Other definitions for ante that I've seen before include "Initial bet" , "Stake put up by a poker-player before receiving cards" , "Stake, bet" , "Preceding birth" , "Advance stake" .)