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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
gam·ble
 Audio Help (gām'bəl) Pronunciation Key
v.
gam·bled, gam·bling, gam·bles
v.
intr.
- To bet on an uncertain outcome, as of a contest.
- To play a game of chance for stakes.
- To take a risk in the hope of gaining an advantage or a benefit.
- To engage in reckless or hazardous behavior: You are gambling with your health by continuing to smoke.
v.
tr.
- To put up as a stake in gambling; wager.
- To expose to hazard; risk: gambled their lives in a dangerous rescue mission.
n.
- A bet, wager, or other gambling venture.
- 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.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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