dan ‧ ger S2 W2 /ˈdeɪndʒə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ endangered , ↑ dangerous ; verb : ↑ endanger ; noun : ↑ danger ; adverb : ↑ dangerously ]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: dangier , from Vulgar Latin dominiarium 'power to do harm' , from Latin dominium 'ownership' ]
1 . [uncountable] the possibility that someone or something will be harmed, destroyed, or killed:
Danger! No boats beyond this point.
The refugees believe that their lives are in danger.
danger of
The danger of a fire in the home increases during the holidays.
danger from
The public was not aware of the danger from nuclear tests in Nevada.
2 . [uncountable and countable] the possibility that something bad will happen
be in danger of (doing) something
The party is in danger of being defeated in the next election.
danger that
There is a danger that museums will attempt to entertain rather than educate.
the danger of (doing) something
to guard against the danger of becoming isolated
a danger sign/signal
He didn’t look pleased, but she ignored the danger signals.
3 . [countable] something or someone that may harm or kill you:
the dangers that abound in the region
danger of
the dangers of drug use
be a danger to somebody/something
The wreck is a danger to other ships.
4 . there’s no danger of something used to say that something will not happen:
There’s no danger of confusion.
There’s no danger of Darren ever getting up early.
5 . be on the danger list British English to be so ill that you may die
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ phrases
▪ be in danger
The public was not in danger at any time.
▪ be in danger of doing something
It was clear that the ship was in grave danger of sinking.
▪ be out of danger (=no longer be in danger)
John is still in hospital but he is out of danger.
▪ put somebody/sb’s life in danger
Firemen put their own lives in danger as part of their job.
▪ be fraught with danger (=involve a lot of danger)
Their journey was long and fraught with danger.
■ adjectives
▪ great danger
I knew I was in great danger.
▪ grave/serious danger (=very great)
You have put us all in grave danger.
▪ mortal danger literary (=danger of death)
The plane’s crew were now in mortal danger.
▪ immediate/imminent danger (=likely to happen very soon)
The passengers on the boat were not in immediate danger.
▪ potential danger (=possible but not definite)
Gloves should be worn because of the potential danger of infection.
▪ constant danger (=continuing all the time)
They are in constant danger of attack.
▪ physical danger (=danger to your body)
Many sports involve some physical danger.
■ verbs
▪ face danger
Today’s police officers face danger every day.
▪ sense danger (=feel that there is danger)
The animal lifted its head, sensing danger.
▪ danger threatens (=seems likely)
Most birds will warn other birds when danger threatens.
▪ danger passes (=there is no longer any danger)
At last the sound of bombing had stopped and the danger had passed.
■ danger + NOUN
▪ a danger area/zone (=an area that could be dangerous)
People living in the danger area have been told to leave.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ risk the chance that something bad may happen:
Smoking greatly increases the risk of lung cancer.
▪ threat the possibility that something very bad will happen:
the only way to reduce the threat of nuclear war
▪ hazard something that may be dangerous or cause accidents or problems:
natural hazards like avalanches