lottery

- 3 dictionary results

lot⋅ter⋅y

[lot-uh-ree]

–noun, plural -ter⋅ies.

1.	a gambling game or method of raising money, as for some public charitable purpose, in which a large number of tickets are sold and a drawing is held for certain prizes.

2.	any scheme for the distribution of prizes by chance.

3.	any happening or process that is or appears to be determined by chance: to look upon life as a lottery.

Origin:
1560–70; < MD loterie (whence also F loterie). See lot, -ery

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source

lot·ter·y (lŏt'ə-rē)

n. pl. lot·ter·ies

A contest in which tokens are distributed or sold, the winning token or tokens being secretly predetermined or ultimately selected in a random drawing.
A selection made by lot from a number of applicants or competitors: The state uses a lottery to assign spaces in the campground.
An activity or event regarded as having an outcome depending on fate: They considered combat duty a lottery.

[French loterie, probably from Dutch loterije, from Middle Dutch, from lot, lot.]

Word Origin & History

lottery

1567, "arrangement for a distribution of prizes by chance," from It. lotteria, from same root as O.E. hlot (see lot).

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