v. & n.
--v. (betting; past and past part. bet or betted)
1. intr. (foll. by on or against with ref. to the outcome) risk a sum of money etc. against another's on the basis of the outcome of an unpredictable event (esp. the result of a race, game, etc., or the outcome in a game of chance).
2 tr. risk (an amount) on such an outcome or result (bet {pound}10 on a horse).
3 tr. risk a sum of money against (a person).
4 tr. colloq. feel sure (bet they've forgotten it).
--n.
1. the act of betting (make a bet).
2 the money etc. staked (put a bet on).
3 colloq. an opinion, esp. a quickly formed or spontaneous one (my bet is that he won't come).
4 colloq. a choice or course of action (she's our best bet).
Phrases and idioms:
you bet you may be sure.
Etymology: 16th c.: perh. a shortened form of ABET