■ noun
1》 a possibility of something happening.
2》 ( ~s ) the probability of something desirable happening.
3》 an opportunity.
4》 the occurrence of events in the absence of any obvious intention or cause: he met his brother by ~.
■ verb
1》 do something by accident.
↘( ~ upon/on/across ) find or see by accident.
2》 informal risk doing (something).
Phrases
by any ~ possibly.
~ one's arm (or luck ) Brit. informal risk doing something.
on the ( off ) ~ just in case.
stand a ~ [usu. with negative ] have a prospect of success or survival.
take a ~ (or ~s ) expose oneself to the risk of danger or failure.
↘( take a ~ on ) risk trusting.
take one's ~ do something risky with the hope of success.
Origin
ME: from OFr. cheance , from cheoir 'fall, befall', based on L. cadere .