— risker , n. — riskless , adj.
/risk/ , n.
1. exposure to the chance of injury or loss; a hazard or dangerous chance: It's not worth the risk.
2. Insurance.
a. the hazard or chance of loss.
b. the degree of probability of such loss.
c. the amount that the insurance company may lose.
d. a person or thing with reference to the hazard involved in insuring him, her, or it.
e. the type of loss, as life, fire, marine disaster, or earthquake, against which an insurance policy is drawn.
3. at risk ,
a. in a dangerous situation or status; in jeopardy: families at risk in the area of the weakened dam.
b. under financial or legal obligation; held responsible: Are individual investors at risk for the debt part of the real estate venture?
4. take or run a risk , to expose oneself to the chance of injury or loss; put oneself in danger; hazard; venture.
v.t.
5. to expose to the chance of injury or loss; hazard: to risk one's life.
6. to venture upon; take or run the chance of: to risk a fall in climbing; to risk a war.
[ 1655-65; risque risc ( hi ) o, of obscure orig. ]
Syn. 1. venture, peril, jeopardy. 5. imperil, endanger, jeopardize. 6. chance.