/ ˈhæzəd; NAmE -ərd/ noun , verb
■ noun
hazard (to sb/sth) | hazard (of sth / of doing sth) a thing that can be dangerous or cause damage :
a fire / safety hazard
Growing levels of pollution represent a serious health hazard to the local population.
Everybody is aware of the hazards of smoking.
hazard lights (= flashing lights on a car that warn other drivers of possible danger)
■ verb
1.
to make a suggestion or guess which you know may be wrong :
[ vn ]
Would you like to hazard a guess ?
[ v speech ]
'Is it Tom you're going with?' she hazarded.
[also v that ]
2.
[ vn ] ( formal ) to risk sth or put it in danger
SYN endanger :
Careless drivers hazard other people's lives as well as their own.
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (originally referring to a certain gambling game): from Old French hasard , from Spanish azar , from Arabic az-zahr chance, luck, from Persian zār or Turkish zar dice.