n.
Pronunciation: ' ädz
Function: noun plural but singular or plural in construction
Date: circa 1520
1 a archaic : INEQUALITIES b obsolete : degree of unlikeness
2 a : an amount by which one thing exceeds or falls short of another <won the election by considerable odds > b (1) : a difference favoring one of two opposed things <overwhelming odds > (2) : a difference in terms of advantage or disadvantage <what's the odds , if thinking so makes them happy ― Flora Thompson> c (1) : the probability that one thing is so or will happen rather than another : CHANCES <the odds are against it> (2) : the ratio of the probability of one event to that of an alternative event
3 : DISAGREEMENT , VARIANCE ― usually used with at <faculty and administration often are at odds on everything ― W. E. Brock b 1930>
4 a : special favor : PARTIALITY b : an allowance granted by one making a bet to one accepting the bet and designed to equalize the chances favoring one of the bettors c : the ratio between the amount to be paid off for a winning bet and the amount of the bet
– by all odds : in every way : without question < by all odds the best book of the year>