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gambling

 - 4 dictionary results

gam⋅ble

  [gam-buhl] verb, -bled, -bling, noun
Use gambling in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to play at any game of chance for money or other stakes.
2. to stake or risk money, or anything of value, on the outcome of something involving chance: to gamble on a toss of the dice.
–verb (used with object)
3. to lose or squander by betting (usually fol. by away): He gambled all his hard-earned money away in one night.
4. to wager or risk (money or something else of value): to gamble one's freedom.
5. to take a chance on; venture; risk: I'm gambling that our new store will be a success.
–noun
6. any matter or thing involving risk or hazardous uncertainty.
7. a venture in a game of chance for stakes, esp. for high stakes.
Origin:
1150–1200; ME gamenen to play (OE gamenian), with substitution of -le for -en; see game 1

Related forms:
gambler, noun

Synonyms:
6. venture, hazard, speculation, flyer.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To gambling
gam·ble   (gām'bəl)   
v.   gam·bled, gam·bling, gam·bles

v.   intr.

    1. To bet on an uncertain outcome, as of a contest.

    2. To play a game of chance for stakes.

  2. To take a risk in the hope of gaining an advantage or a benefit.

  3. To engage in reckless or hazardous behavior: You are gambling with your health by continuing to smoke.

v.   tr.

  1. To put up as a stake in gambling; wager.

  2. To expose to hazard; risk: gambled their lives in a dangerous rescue mission.

n.  

  1. A bet, wager, or other gambling venture.

  2. An act or undertaking of uncertain outcome; a risk: I took a gamble that stock prices would rise.


[Perhaps from obsolete gamel, to play games, from Middle English gamen, gamenen, to play, from Old English gamenian, from gamen, fun.]
gam'bler n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

gamble  (v.)
1726 (implied in gambling), from a dialectal survival of M.E. gammlen, variant of gamenen "to play, jest, be merry," from O.E. gamenian "to play," from gamen (see game). Or possibly gamble is from a derivative of gamel "to play games" (1594), itself likely a frequentative from game. Originally regarded as a slang word. The intrusive -b- may be from confusion with gambol.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: gam·ble
Pronunciation: 'gam-b&l
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: gam·bled; gam·bling
intransitive verb : to risk something of value for the chance of winning a prize transitive verb : to risk (something) for the chance of winning a prize —gam·bler /-bl&r/ noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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