RISK

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does risk mean? 

• RISK (noun)
  The noun RISK has 4 senses:

1. a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune

2. a venture undertaken without regard to possible loss or injury

3. the probability of becoming infected given that exposure to an infectious agent has occurred

4. the probability of being exposed to an infectious agent

  Familiarity information: RISK used as a noun is uncommon.

• RISK (verb)
  The verb RISK has 2 senses:

1. expose to a chance of loss or damage

2. take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome

  Familiarity information: RISK used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RISK (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

endangerment; hazard; jeopardy; peril; risk

Context example:

drinking alcohol is a health hazard

Hypernyms ("risk" is a kind of...):

danger (a cause of pain or injury or loss)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "risk"):

health hazard (hazard to the health of those exposed to it)

moral hazard ((economics) the lack of any incentive to guard against a risk when you are protected against it (as by insurance))

occupational hazard (any condition of a job that can result in illness or injury)

sword of Damocles (a constant and imminent peril)

Derivation:

risk (expose to a chance of loss or damage)

risky (involving risk or danger)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A venture undertaken without regard to possible loss or injury

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

danger; peril; risk

Context example:

there was a danger he would do the wrong thing

Hypernyms ("risk" is a kind of...):

venture (any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "risk"):

chance (a risk involving danger)

crapshoot (a risky and uncertain venture)

gamble (a risky act or venture)

Derivation:

risk (take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome)

risk (expose to a chance of loss or damage)

risky (involving risk or danger)

risky (not financially safe or secure)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The probability of becoming infected given that exposure to an infectious agent has occurred

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

risk; risk of infection

Hypernyms ("risk" is a kind of...):

chance; probability (a measure of how likely it is that some event will occur; a number expressing the ratio of favorable cases to the whole number of cases possible)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The probability of being exposed to an infectious agent

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

risk; risk of exposure

Hypernyms ("risk" is a kind of...):

chance; probability (a measure of how likely it is that some event will occur; a number expressing the ratio of favorable cases to the whole number of cases possible)

• RISK (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they risk    ... he / she / it risks   
Past simple: risked   
Past participle: risked   
-ing form: risking   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Expose to a chance of loss or damage

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

lay on the line; put on the line; risk

Context example:

She laid her job on the line when she told the boss that he was wrong

Hypernyms (to "risk" is one way to...):

assay; attempt; essay; seek; try (make an effort or attempt)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "risk"):

adventure; hazard; jeopardize; stake; venture (put at risk)

bell the cat (take a risk; perform a daring act)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s VERB-ing

Derivation:

risk (a venture undertaken without regard to possible loss or injury)

risk (a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

adventure; chance; gamble; hazard; risk; run a risk; take a chance; take chances

Context example:

When you buy these stocks you are gambling

Hypernyms (to "risk" is one way to...):

assay; attempt; essay; seek; try (make an effort or attempt)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "risk"):

go for broke (risk everything in one big effort)

luck it; luck through (act by relying on one's luck)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Derivation:

risk (a venture undertaken without regard to possible loss or injury)

 Context examples 

"You should not have taken such a risk!" we all cried.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I've tried and failed, and I won't risk our happiness by such a serious experiment.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

A risk factor for breast cancer

(Age at Menarche, NCI Thesaurus)

Oh, what a reward it is, said Uriah, drawing up one leg, at the risk of bringing down upon himself another visitation from my aunt, to be so trusted in!

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

They also have an increased risk of cancer, especially osteosarcoma (a type of bone cancer).

(Adult progeria, NCI Dictionary)

I could risk no sort of answer by this time: my heart was still.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Exposure to asbestos particles in the air increases the risk of developing malignant mesothelioma.

(Mesothelioma, NCI Dictionary)

Patients with Ménétrier disease may be at a higher risk of stomach cancer.

(Ménétrier disease, NCI Dictionary)

The chances are desperate, but my need is more desperate still. I shall risk it.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Well, that is part of the risk.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)