risk

Meanings

Plural: risks

Noun

a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
a venture undertaken without regard to possible loss or injury
- "he saw the rewards but not the risks of crime"
the probability of becoming infected given that exposure to an infectious agent has occurred
the probability of being exposed to an infectious agent
The probability of a negative outcome to a decision or event.
The magnitude of possible loss consequent to a decision or event.
The potential negative effect of an event, determined by multiplying the likelihood of the event occurring with its magnitude should it occur.
A possible adverse event or outcome.
A possible adverse event or outcome.
A type of adverse event covered under an insurance policy.
A thing (from the perspective of how likely or unlikely it is to cause an adverse effect).
A borrower (such as a mortgage-holder or person with a credit card).
A thing (from the perspective of how likely or unlikely it is to cause an adverse effect).
A financial product (typically an investment).
A thing (from the perspective of how likely or unlikely it is to cause an adverse effect).
An entity insured by an insurer.
A thing (from the perspective of how likely or unlikely it is to cause an adverse effect).

Verb

expose to a chance of loss or damage
- "We risked losing a lot of money in this venture"
- "Why risk your life?"
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
To incur risk of (an unwanted or negative outcome).
To incur risk of harming or jeopardizing.
To incur risk as a result of (doing something).

Origin / Etymology

From earlier risque, from Middle French risque, from Old Italian risco (“risk”) (modern Italian rischio) and rischiare (“to run into danger”). Displaced native Old English pleoh (“risk”) and plēon (“to risk”).
speculation on earlier roots
Most dictionaries consider the etymology of these Italian terms uncertain, but some suggest they perhaps come from Vulgar Latin *resecum (“that which cuts, rock, crag”) (> Medieval Latin resicu), from Latin resecō (“cut off, loose, curtail”, verb), in the sense of that which is a danger to boating or shipping; or from Ancient Greek ῥιζικόν (rhizikón, “root, radical, hazard”).
A few dictionaries express more certainty. Collins says the Italian risco comes from Ancient Greek ῥίζα (rhíza, “cliff”) due to the hazards of sailing along rocky coasts. The American Heritage says it probably comes from Byzantine Greek ῥιζικό, ριζικό (rhizikó, rizikó, “sustenance obtained by a soldier through his own initiative, fortune”), from Arabic رِزْق (rizq, “sustenance, that which God allots”), from Classical Syriac ܪܘܙܝܩܐ ,ܪܙܩܐ (rezqā, rōzīqā, “daily ration”), from Middle Persian [script needed] (rōčig), from Middle Persian [script needed] (rōč, “day”), from Old Persian [script needed] (*raučah-), from Proto-Indo-European *lewk-.
Cognate with Spanish riesgo, Portuguese risco

Synonyms

adventure, chance, court, danger, endangerment, gamble, hazard, jeopardy, lay on the line, peril, put on the line, risk of exposure, risk of infection, run a risk, take a chance, take chances

Scrabble Score: 8

risk is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
risk is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
risk is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 8

risk is a valid Words With Friends word