I. ˈgambəl
Midland
variant of gambrel 2
II. ˈgambəl, ˈgaam- verb
( gambled ; gambled ; gambling -b(ə)liŋ ; gambles )
Etymology: probably back-formation from gambler
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to play a game of chance for money or other stakes
b. : to wager money or other stakes on an uncertain outcome (as of a horse race or an athletic game)
2. : to stake something of value on an uncertain event or contingency : take a chance : speculate especially recklessly
gambled on beating the Americans in air transport with jet airliners — Howard Marshall
we cannot gamble on offending anyone — Reporter
gamble in the stock market
transitive verb
1. : to risk or lose by gambling : wager , bet
they've all been gambled and lost by her husband that morning — Henri Michaux
— often used with away
gambled away his inheritance
2. : to expose (something of value) to risk or hazard on the hope of advantage or gain
decided to gamble my ship and our lives by going left — H.A.Chippendale
gambled hundreds of thousands of dollars in research funds to work on the project — Phoenix Flame
III. noun
( -s )
1. : an act of playing a game of chance for money or other stakes
the bishop … has not the slightest objection to a gentlemanly gamble — Norman Douglas
2.
a. : an act or transaction having an element of risk or uncertainty : chance , risk
a joint tenancy involves a gamble as to who dies first — Deerfield (Wisc.) Independent
spent two billion dollars on the greatest scientific gamble in history — H.S.Truman
companies … were unwilling to take the gamble and declined to go along — Freeman Lincoln
b. : something that is the object of a gamble
every crop was a gamble — F.L.Paxson